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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEU fear of GM food from US hampers historic trade deal.
An enormous gulf has been exposed between the EU and the US through Europes reluctance to buy hormone meat or GM food from the US. Industry and labor groups voiced concern to EU and US negotiators that the globes biggest trade pact was under threat.
There is an enormous gulf between the EU and US positions, said Michael Dolan, a lobbyist for the US Teamsters Union at the fourth round of trade talks between the EU and US in Brussels on Wednesday.
The talks marked an unusual occasion, being the first time that lobbyists were received, and additionally marking the first time that the forum allowed reporters inside.
Those involved in negotiating a pact have expressed a desire to finalize a deal before the end of the year. Eight months of talks have already passed. However, tensions which have underscored trade talks worldwide have been a drawback, and continued low public support for the deal has exacerbated tensions over food.
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However, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht frequently reasserts that there will be no changes to the EU regulation of GM food even if an agreement is reached with the US.
The EU is also closed to US beef from cattle raised with growth hormones.
http://rt.com/news/europe-us-gm-trade-394/
newfie11
(8,159 posts)Now if only we could ban this shit here. Our government seems to be controlled by big ag at the expense of the health of the citizens of this country!
Everything's for sale here!
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)According to the report, the principle allows too much leeway for potentially dangerous products to find their way onto the consumer market. In practice a GMO crop is compared to any existing variety of the same species, meaning that a product made up of a collection of species is not treated differently. Moreover, the tests that GMO products undergo to show they are substantially equivalent to their counterparts are not nearly detailed enough, writes the study.
Traits used for comparisons are also based solely on gross and insensitive chemical compositional tests such as levels of carbohydrate, protein and sugars. This process cannot even begin to tackle safety issues.
The study cites research carried out by Professor El-Sayed Shaltout at Alexandria University last year that found that Monsantos 810 Corn (Ajeeb-YG®) was radically different to its non-GM counterpart. Research revealed that Monsantos corn had abnormal levels of amino acids and fatty acids, as well as increased total protein, crude fat and decreased starch content.
http://rt.com/news/gmo-substantial-equivalence-failed-015/
Berlum
(7,044 posts)marions ghost
(19,841 posts)not to be able to trust the food we eat. To have to spend time researching, inspecting, and still feeling uncertain about everything you put in a shopping cart.
Monsanto does not care about consumers or the environment.
Keep rejecting GMO crap, Europe!
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)ability to regulate harmful foods.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)Not the least of which is burden of healthcare costs. I have never understood why so many businesses allow others to "poison the river upstream" to make their huge profits. But I guess so many have learned to profit from sickness and disease, it's no big deal.
Denmark and Sweden I understand have passed laws that dairy cows must be pastured. This leads to FAR healthier animals and milk products because the animals don't need tons of antibiotics from eating a non-species appropriate diet of grains and soy. Humans get healthier dairy products that contain all the good stuff such as high CLA and joint mobility factors. And it tastes magnitudes better!
I too am so disgusted to watch as we pollute our air, water, soil and food supply all in the name of making a very few richer. And then we turn around and blame overworked, underpaid, stressed out, undernourished people for being fat, lazy slobs. Our healthcare industry is just as bad as any other. It is such a mess and I have no idea how it gets any better.