Brussels, 3rd March 2008

EURO COOP is the European Community of Consumer Cooperatives, whose members are the national organisations of consumer cooperatives in 17 European countries. Created in 1957, EURO COOP today represents over 3,200 local and regional cooperatives, the members of which amount to more than 23 million consumers across Europe.

Preliminary remarks

Last January Euro Coop was asked to respond to a questionnaire prepared in the framework of the "Transcontainer" initiative, a European Commission-funded Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project (STREP). In occasion, Euro Coop responded to most of the questions submitted and decided to organise them in a more thorough document aimed at stating again its position on the broader issue of GMOs.

Consumers effective right to choose implies segregation of GM sources

Euro Coop believes that in order to ensure that consumers have an effective right to choose between GM and non-GM food, it is necessary to guarantee the segregation of GM sources. It is therefore essential to adopt all necessary measures to avoid contamination. Moreover the costs to guarantee protection of non-GM sources from contamination should be borne by those who produce GM products.

Besides that many European regions are asking for the possibility to decide on GMOs. In this respect, Euro Coop calls for the right to exclude GM cultivation in areas where it is not possible to guarantee the segregation between GM and non-GM crops.

Precautionary principle and independent studies needed

Regarding biologically containment of GM crops as a tool to facilitate co-existence of GM and non-GM crops, the need to carry out long-term studies remains unchanged, in order to check the safety, stability and effectiveness of the changes. In this respect, Euro Coop supports the precautionary principle and believes that independent studies are necessary before the introduction into the Environment and, even more, before the use for animal and human food.

More public-funded research based on caution and sound science

Euro Coop has always called for more research on the issue, based on increased public funding. It is indeed necessary to investigate the mid and long-term effects that the use of GMOs could have on human health and the Environment, as well as their economic and social impacts. Caution and sound science represent the two key principles that should guide the EU on this issue. In this respect, Euro Coop welcomes the decision of the European Commission to fund research and calls for an open debate on the results obtained.

For further information, please contact:
Rosita Zilli, Policy Adviser, Euro Coop
Tel: +32 (0)2 285 00 72
E-mail: rzilliateurocoop.coop

1. "Transcontainer" is a European Commission-funded Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project (STREP) in the Sixth Framework Programme Priority 5: Food Quality and Safety.