The science, politics and trade of agricultural biotechnology: Bottlenecks in Europe

Abstract

The import and cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is still a controversial issue among EU Member States. The issue is not limited to the EU and has to be seen within the international context in which the EU and the EU Member States operate. The presentation sketches the international policy environment for GMOs, focusing on the implications for the EU. This environment plays an important role for the EU, because a strict separation of GM and non-GM products not only influences price levels but also gives rise to trade disputes and influences the policy choices made by international players such as plant breeding and food companies. In the EU, despite WTO challenges, an unsatisfactory approval process exists for GMO imports and planting.