Dear Member of the European Parliament,

  On 2 July 2003, you will vote on two recommendations on genetically modified (GM) feed and food, traceability and labelling. EURO COOP , the European Association of Consumer Co-operatives strongly recommends that you follow the position adopted by the European Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (Environment Committee) on 22 May 2003, which voted for EU legal measures on co-existence as well as for the rejection of a tolerance level for non-authorised GMOs.

  EURO COOP has always taken the view that the existing EU legislation on GM labelling does not allow consumers to make informed choices. We believe that the two recommendations - as adopted by the Environment Committee last May - represent an important step towards improving the current situation. We are therefore very concerned by any attempts to undermine these two recommendations, which would prevent the full implementation of consumers' right to know and right to choose. We therefore urge you to consider the following comments:

• Co-existence measures are key to ensure consumer choice

  EURO COOP, the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives, strongly believes that consumer choice cannot be dissociated from agriculture and environmental protection: the introduction of GMOs to EU agriculture will pose new challenges to consumers' and farmers' freedom of choice. As a recent report by the Commission's Joint Research Centre1 states, "the percentage of GMOs grown represent an important factor, already a level of 10% of GM varieties causes significant levels of GM content in non-GM crops".

  Given that the vast majority of consumers refuse to eat GMOs, we consider that their right to choose must prevail and should be the starting point. In July last year, the European Parliament voted in first reading for a new EU labelling scheme based on traceability and segregation. EURO COOP strongly believes that complementary EU legislative measures are needed to ensure the success of this reform. EURO COOP considers that there is an urgent need to adequately address the issue of GMO contamination all along the food chain, starting with GM seeds contamination in conventional and organic seeds. Such protective measures will be crucial if Europe allows commercial growing of GM crops to recommence. Otherwise, consumer rights to choice about GM food will be reduced to "more or less GMO".

  We therefore urge you to defend EU legal measures on co-existence and to follow the Environment Committee recommendations on this issue.

• Consumers should not find unauthorised GMOs in their food

  Consumer co-operatives are opposed to the Council's Common Position stating that there should be a 0.5% tolerance level for non-authorised GMOs for a limited period of three years. Indeed we find this compromise self-contradicting: it is not possible on the one hand, to strengthen the authorisation process for GMOs, while on the other hand, accept that non-authorised GMOs are present in foodstuffs without informing consumers, even for a limited period of time. We strongly recommend the Members of Parliament to follow the Environment Committee recommendations on this important issue as it is key to ensuring consumers' safety and regaining their confidence.

  I hope you will find these recommendations useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information on the EURO COOP position.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Aude L'hirondel
Food Policy Officer