EU-Citizens Initiative tried as new means of action against genetically modified crops

14 December 2010

In the 9 December 2010 issue of Dutch daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad Renée Postma writes on a new form of protest employed by Greenpeace against allowing more genetically modified crops into Europe. The Lisbon Treaty states that when over 1 million citizens in at least 9 member states sign a petition, the European Committee has to take action on such an EU Citizens Initiative. Although the Treaty of Lisbon has taken effect over one year ago, the application of this EU Citizens Initiative still is subject of debate. In any case Greenpeace has succeeded in generating attention by introducing this novelty.
     The first reason is that last summer, starch potato variety Amflora of BASF was the first variety in a long time to gain permission to be grown within the EU. Such amylose-free potatoes only contain starch in the form of amylopectine. As a consequence the other starch no longer needs to be removed after harvest in a factory by chemical methods. Amflora therefore saves energy, waste, and cost. The industrial starch produced is used for the manufacture of for instance glossy paper and textiles.
     The second reason is the plan to change the application procedures in the EU (article from 7th of December 2010). Greenpeace expects that a change in policy will lead to allow more genetically modified varieties into the EU. This includes varieties that áre intended for consumption. Therefore Greenpeace calls for action. Before there will be a vote on the new plan, there still remain a number of legal issues to be solved first. The NRC Handelsblad newspaper article mentions a meeting of the EU ministers of agriculture being scheduled for that purpose for January 2011.

source: Renée Postma in NRC Handelsblad, 9 December 2010