European farmers' organisation urges new EU rules for GM Feed
Published: February 15, 2011
Source : Copa-Cogeca
EU farmers' organisation, Copa-Cogeca, urges member states to agree on new EU rules on the low level presence of genetically modified organisms in feed. If not, EU livestock farmers input costs will soar, costing them hundreds of millions of euros.
Copa-Cogeca argues that the EU is dependent for more than 80% on imports of vegetable proteins for which there are no substitution possibilities in the short term. This is causing feed prices to rise further, thus deepening the crisis in the EU livestock sector, notably for pigs, since feedstuffs represent between 50-65% of production costs in the EU. As these raw materials are used in both the feed and food chain, it would be best to find a technical solution for both food and feed.
Nevertheless, Copa-Cogeca calls on member states in the Permanent Committee for Biotechnology to agree at their meeting on February 8 on a draft regulation allowing at minimum the presence of non-authorised GMOs in feed up until a maximum threshold of 0.1%.
Given the bulk handling of grains in international trade, compliance with a zero tolerance policy for LLP of unauthorised material is impossible A practical solution must be found in a short term, otherwise it could cost EU farmers hundreds of millions of euros. For the winter period 2009-2010, the Wageningen university has assessed the overall cost at 1 billion euros for 6 months.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary-general Pekka Pesonen stressed "At a time when most EU livestock producers are facing serious economic losses, some EU opposition to finding a practical threshold for trace levels of not yet EU authorised GM plants in imported feed will drive EU livestock farmers and feed operators out of business. I consequently urge member states to agree on urgent measures to prevent the EU livestock industry from re-locating abroad". In the longer term, Copa-Cogeca wants to develop the EU own protein supply further and reintroduce the use of processed animal proteins to reduce its dependence on imported soybean.
Copa-Cogeca argues that the EU is dependent for more than 80% on imports of vegetable proteins for which there are no substitution possibilities in the short term. This is causing feed prices to rise further, thus deepening the crisis in the EU livestock sector, notably for pigs, since feedstuffs represent between 50-65% of production costs in the EU. As these raw materials are used in both the feed and food chain, it would be best to find a technical solution for both food and feed.
Nevertheless, Copa-Cogeca calls on member states in the Permanent Committee for Biotechnology to agree at their meeting on February 8 on a draft regulation allowing at minimum the presence of non-authorised GMOs in feed up until a maximum threshold of 0.1%.
Given the bulk handling of grains in international trade, compliance with a zero tolerance policy for LLP of unauthorised material is impossible A practical solution must be found in a short term, otherwise it could cost EU farmers hundreds of millions of euros. For the winter period 2009-2010, the Wageningen university has assessed the overall cost at 1 billion euros for 6 months.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary-general Pekka Pesonen stressed "At a time when most EU livestock producers are facing serious economic losses, some EU opposition to finding a practical threshold for trace levels of not yet EU authorised GM plants in imported feed will drive EU livestock farmers and feed operators out of business. I consequently urge member states to agree on urgent measures to prevent the EU livestock industry from re-locating abroad". In the longer term, Copa-Cogeca wants to develop the EU own protein supply further and reintroduce the use of processed animal proteins to reduce its dependence on imported soybean.
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Universidad ISA (Instituto Superior de Agricultura)
22 de febrero de 2011
European producers after many years suffered large losses of euros are accepting the use of genetically modified GMO inputs, I hope the same happens with the prohibition of antibiotics in the future.
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1 de julio de 2011
That's true. For several years European producers experienced massive losses of euros, in which a personal loan is not enough, yet they were able to accept the utilization of genetically modified GMO inputs. The thing here is everybody must be open minded.If they disagree, then EU livestock farmers input costs will definitely boom, costing them more than millions of monetary units. Therefore, considering this will do them good.
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