Canadian Government Mum on GE Wheat
Saturday, April 19, 2003
The Canadian government hasn’t yet reacted to proposals from food
and farm industry groups on how the market impact of genetically
engineered wheat could be assessed separately from reviewing the
health and safety of the prospective crop. The lack of response
has left proponents of the assessment somewhat puzzled (see FCN
April 14, Page 7). The concern is that if Health Canada and the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency approve Monsanto’s Roundup Ready
wheat, the Canadian Wheat Board could lose the buyers for more than
80% of its wheat. The health and safety review is well under way,
and many observers expect it could be done in time for Monsanto
to start producing seed by 2005.
While Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief has agreed to the idea
that there should be a market impact test, federal officials don’t
seem to have many ideas on how it could be done. That’s why the
Wheat Board, Grain Growers of Canada and the Canadian National Millers
Association came forward with three separate proposals for conducting
the assessment. So far they have had no reaction from the government.
Asked about the situation, Jamie Oxley, an Agriculture Department
spokesman, said the three proposals are under review. “We are actively
pursuing it,” he told FCN, adding that the differences among the
options “shows the breadth of the debate over GE wheat.” He wouldn’t
comment directly on the various proposals other than to say that
the government could combine elements from all three in its ultimate
position on the market impact test.
Such a proposal would have to include the conditions under which
an unfavorable market response would block the introduction of a
product that passes the health and safety process, he added. However,
the government won’t be able to dodge the issue for too long. When
Parliament resumes after the Easter break, Agriculture committee
chairman Paul Steckle says there will be additional hearings on
the issue. MPs want to know what Vanclief and senior officials think
of the various proposals. The CWB’s Patty Rosher was the least concerned
about the lack of a response. “We know that Mr. Vanclief understands
the issue,” she said. “Right now, there are a lot of interdepartmental
discussions going on about the market harm issue.” She added that,
in time, the government would start consulting with producers. But
Gordon Harrison, the head of the Millers Association, said he was
surprised by the silence, since his group called for a regulation
requiring all new crops to undergo a market impact review. Its test
would also look at whether a new crop would affect the grain handling
and food processing sectors as well as farmers.
The CWB wants only a regulated market impact test of Monsanto’s
Roundup Ready wheat, while Grain Growers prefer a voluntary farmer-led
review process. All three groups agree the market test shouldn’t
interfere in the science-based health and safety review. They also
want to make sure the market impact test doesn’t lead to trade challenges
against Canada. Denise Dewar of CropLife Canada said she’s concerned
that the demands for a regulatory market impact test could stymie
the introduction of new crops. “It would stop the wheels so fast,
and take us down a path we don’t want to go,” she said. Dewar added
that she had heard concerns from International Trade Department
officials about challenges to a market impact test. CWB’s Rosher
agreed that the market impact test had to be handled carefully “so
we don’t stymie further innovation.” However, the CWB still thinks
“there is a regulatory gap that has to be closed.” — Alex Binkley
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