Brussels, Belgium
14 February 2011

The Commission and Members States did not reach a consensus on the proposal for a technical solution for the low level presence of GM events not yet authorized in Europe at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health meeting on 8 and 9 February. This leaves the European grains and feedingstuffs importers exposed to high risks and serious legal uncertainty.

COCERAL acknowledges the results of almost five years of discussion on the impacts of the GMOs zero-tolerance policy along the food and feed supply chain. However: “The delay in adopting and publishing a "workable" technical solution is seriously endangering trade operations and could seriously impact all the EU farm, processing, food and feed industry sectors” said Ms. Teresa Babuscio, Secretary General of COCERAL.

COCERAL Members are carefully considering the concerns recently voiced by the European farmers, food and feed processors: further delay in finding a workable solution for traces of GMOs not yet authorized in Europe will leave trading operators facing with a dilemma on whether or not take the risk of importing and supplying the almost 80% of vegetable proteins, beans and meals, needed and demanded by the European farmers, crushers, food and feed processors.

COCERAL is the voice representing the European cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply trade. The members of COCERAL are the national trade organizations of most of the EU-27 Member States, who for their part represent collectors, distributors, exporters, importers and agribulk stores of the above mentioned commodities.

Website: http://www.coceral.com

Published: February 15, 2011