2005-10-24 | permalink
Today the Council of Agriculture ministers met in Luxembourg and once more they failed to agree. There was no qualified majority to authorise two modified maize lines MON863 and GA21 and no qualified majority to force the lifting of the Greek ban on GM maize cultivation.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33144/story.htm">Reuters</a>
2005-10-23 | permalink
Estonians have changed their mind on GM food and agriculture between 2001 and 2005 a survey of the Estonian Institute on Economics reveals. In 2001 53% said they might eat GM food and only 24% said certainly not, in 2005 only 24% said "maybe" but 46% "certainly not". Also a majority now believes that GMOs should not be grown in their country.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/estonian_GM_poll_2001_2005.pdf">excerpts of the poll in English</a></p><p><a href="http://www.ki.ee/uudised/OSTUEELISTUSED_2005_-_MAHETOIT_presentatsioon.pdf">Original in Estonian</a>
2005-10-19 | permalink
Greenpeace today published some results which show that consumers and food producers in Poland and Russia have become strong opponents against genetically engineered food. In Poland, an opinion poll commissioned by Greenpeace shows that 76% of Polish consumers do not wish to eat food products that contain GE ingredients, such as GE soya and GE maize. The Russian Consumers Guide reveals more than 450 food companies in the country that have adopted a GE free policy.</p><p><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/rejection-of-ge-food-spreads-i">Greenpeace Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://en.rian.ru/society/20050518/40375624.html">RIA Novosti: Two-thirds of Russians unwilling to eat GM-Food</a></p><p><a href="http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsletter&topic_id=2&subtopic_id=10&doc_id=11472">Moscow Times via checkbiotech.org: Food producers assail Greenpeace blacklist</a></p><p><a href="http://cee.greenpeace.at/gpcee/pl/secure/k-tools/phplib/MedienDatenbankView.inc.php?id=1722">Opinion poll done by PBS in Poland [engl. figures at the end]</a>
2005-10-18 | permalink
After successful action days against GMOs in 2004 and 2005 international grassroots organisers with a focus in France are calling for the organisation of an International day of opposition to GMOs in spring 2006. A preparatory meeting will be held in Montreuil on October 20th.</p><p><a href="http://altercampagne.free.fr">Altercampagne homepage</a>
2005-10-15 | permalink
The EU council of agricultural ministers on Oct 25th will vote on a Commission proposal to overturn the ban of Mon810 GM maize varieties, which had been inscribed in the Unions Common seed catalogue. The ministers will also vote on the approval of Monsantos MON863 bt maize for import as food and feed. In both cases no qualified majority against the Commissions proposals are expected so far.</p><p><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100012_13/10/2005_61831">Kathimerini: GM corn could make the menu</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/en/frame.php?page=/dossier/17_seed_varieties_com_catalogue_en">SOS Dossier on GM seed variety approvals and bans</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/en/frame.php?page=/dossier/fact_sheet_mon_863">SOS fact sheet on Mon863</a>
