MEP says Anti-GM Dogma Driving up Feed Prices
06 September 2007
With another hike this week in livestock feed prices, Jim Allister MEP raised, with the EU Commission, during Question Time in Parliament, the contribution being made by its delay in approving the use of cheaper GM-linked compounds.
Jim Allister (NI). – "Is it not the case that the Commission’s dilatory approach to approving GM derivatives is helping to inflate EU livestock feed prices? For example, the excessive delay in approving use of the corn by-product Hercules is severely damaging the competitiveness of our grain trade sector, yet GA 21, a GM product from Argentina, is approved in the EU for human consumption, but not for animal feed. Is it not time to rationalise and bring some sense to this situation and cut adrift some of the contrived political correctness that is driving it?"
Mr Allister will be pursuing this issue further through tabled questions on why it takes twice as long to approve GM variants in the EU, compared with the USA, and seeking expedition on these matters.
Commenting Mr Allister said, "Our intensive sector, in particular, can't bear these repeated increases. The purist attitude in Europe to GM is a contributory factor, making our grain trade sector non-competitive. So called GM-free status is an unworkable nonsense, embraced by our current Minister's party, Sinn Fein and others out of touch with the realities of the market place. Our intensive sector needs real help, not foolish, unscientific dogma. I trust the Minister cut the ties that bind her to chasing the moonbeam of unattainable "GM-free status".
ENDS
