Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME1457
2002-03-21 15:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. SUMMARY: AN UNDATED WHITE PAPER ENTITLED
"TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS AND AGRICULTURE: A TIME
FOR CHOICES" WAS PUT INTO CIRCULATION IN
ITALY AFTER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GIANNI
ALEMANNO PRESENTED AN OUTLINE OF THIS
STRATEGY AT AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN THE
SECOND WEEK OF MARCH. THIS PAPER RECOUNTS THE
HISTORY OF AND DEFENDS THE ITALIAN BAN ON
FOUR EU-APPROVED GM CORN VARIETIES AND
SUGGESTS IT BE CONTINUED UNDER PLANNED EU
RULE CHANGES. FURTHERMORE, THE PAPER SUGGESTS
NATIONAL LEGISLATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE ITALIAN MARKET TO
BIOTECHNOLOGY BEYOND PROPOSED EU NORMS. IT
EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING LAWS.
2. THE PAPER ARGUES THAT THE UNIQUE
GEOGRAPHY OF ITALY, THE SMALL AGRICULTURAL
LAND HOLDINGS WHICH BORDER ON ONE ANOTHER AND
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THE NEED TO
PRESERVE REGIONAL AND TYPICAL PRODUCTS OF
HIGH VALUE IN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MARKETS
MEANS THAT THE MARKET NICHE HELD BY ITALIAN
QUALITY PRODUCTS COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE
INTRODUCTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY. CONVERSELY, A
DECISION TO MAKE ITALIAN AGRICULTURE GMO
FREE, COULD STRENGTHEN THE NICHE MARKET
OCCUPIED BY ITALIAN QUALITY PRODUCTS. END
SUMMARY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
3. THE PAPER CAME TO US FROM ASSOBIOTEC AND
MONSANTO, ORIGINATING FROM THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE U/S AMBROSIO. WE UNDERSTAND THAT
THE PAPER WILL BE USED TO INITIATE A PUBLIC
DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT TOWARD THE END OF APRIL.
COMMENT: BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW POLITICIANS
WHO WILL RISK TAKING A POSITION AGAINST THE
ANTI-BIOTECH CROWD, ONCE DEBATED PUBLICLY IN
PARLIAMENT IT WILL BE HARD TO ENLIST SUCH
SUPPORT. IF DEBATE TRANSFORMS THE PAPER INTO
GOI POLICY BY LEGISLATION OR DECREE, IT
THREATENS, AT A MINIMUM, U.S. SOY AND CORN
SEED IMPORTS, AND SOYBEAN AND MEAL IMPORTS,
WORTH ABOUT DOLS 150 MILLION, OR ABOUT ONE
FOURTH OF THE VALUE OF U.S. FOOD AND FEED
EXPORT MARKET TO ITALY. END COMMENT. EMBASSY
ROME IS CONFERRING WITH INTERLOCUTORS AND IN
A SEPTEL WILL REPORT THE REACTION OF FARM
INTEREST GROUPS. POST HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS
ABOUT THE PAPER TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
OFFICE AND HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT THOSE
CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED.
4. THE PAPER STATES THAT EU LEGISLATION DOES
NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESTRICT GMO "CONTAMINATION"
FROM ENTERING THE FOOD CHAIN. COMMENT: THIS
IS NOT A SCIENTIFIC PAPER. IN FACT THIS WHITE
PAPER REBUFFS SCIENTIFIC REASONING ON AG
BIOTECH AS USELESS AND REPETITIVE. IT UPHOLDS
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE OVER ALL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
APPROACHES TO BIOTECH, WHETHER THE SUBJECT BE
SCIENCE, ETHICS, OR PRODUCTION ECONOMICS. BY
OMITTING ANY SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS OR
CONSIDERING THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY,
THE PAPER IS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A SIMPLISTIC
ARGUMENT WHICH PORTRAYS BIOTECHNOLOGY AS A
THREAT TO ITALIAN HIGH VALUE PRODUCTS, AND
THAT BY EXCLUDING THEM ITALY WILL PURSUE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE ITALY'S INTERNATIONAL
REPUTATION. THE PAPER CONCLUDES THAT
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDS NO PROMISE, AND INDEED IS
A THREAT TO ITALIAN CONSUMERS, THE ITALIAN
ECONOMY, AND ITALIAN FOOD PRODUCERS. THE
PAPER'S INTENT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TITLE,
IS TO ESTABLISH A NEED FOR NATIONAL
REGULATIONS TO FURTHER RESTRICT EU
LEGISLATION ON BIOTECH TOLERANCES, TO OPPOSE
BIOTECH APPROVALS, AND TO ENHANCE
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING. END COMMENT.
5. THE PAPER'S 37 PAGES OF ARGUM
ENT FOLLOW
THESE LINES: BEGIN WHITE PAPER SUMMARY
6. FARMERS SKEPTICAL ABOUT BENEFITS OF
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH. BIOTECH AIMS TO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3159
PAGE 01 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- 789D4E 212023Z /38
R 211548Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2881
USDA FAS WASHDC 2066
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
INCREASE YIELDS QUANTITATIVELY, WHILE ITALY
IS TRYING TO SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF
DISCRIMINATING CONSUMERS WHO WANT QUALITY,
GENUINE FOOD. INCREASING YIELDS MAKES SENSE
ON A GLOBAL SCALE, BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE
IN EVERY AGRICULTURAL SETTING. IN THE ITALIAN
AGRICULTURAL COMPLEX, BIOTECH SHOULD BE
SCRUTINIZED ACCORDING TO ITALY'S
CHARACTERISTICS: ITS PREDILECTION FOR NICHE
PRODUCTS, THE TOPOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT;
SOCIAL ASPECTS INCLUDING HOW CONSUMERS VIEW
AGRICULTURE, THE PRESENCE OF BIOTECH IN FEED
INGREDIENTS, THE ROLE OF RESEARCH AND
EXPERIMENTATION; AND EU LEGISLATIVE NORMS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE REGARDING THE SEED REGIME.
AGRICULTURE IN THE EU COMMUNITY IS ALLOWING A
PROGRESSIVE PENETRATION BY BIOTECHNOLOGY
WHICH WILL DEPRIVE CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO
WORK IN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES FROM A CHOICE
TO REMAIN GMO-FREE.
7. QUALITY FOOD
THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY SECTOR
CONTRIBUTES 23 PERCENT TO ITALIAN GNP. THE
"QUALITY" OR "TRADITIONAL" FOOD PRODUCTS HAVE
EARNED ITALY A REPUTATION THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS UNDER PROTECTION
OF GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS OR OTHER
DESIGNATIONS REPRESENT 15 PERCENT OF THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
VALUE OF TOTAL FOOD PRODUCTION. THESE COULD
BE THE ENGINE FOR MORE VALUE ADDED IF THE
EXPORT OF "QUALITY" PRODUCTS EXPANDS. THERE
ARE 114 PRODUCTS UNDER EU PROTECTION BY
DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN, GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATION, OR TRADITIONAL SPECIALTY. ADD TO
THIS 440 WINES WITH VARIOUS DESIGNATIONS. BY
GETTING MORE PRODUCTS TO COME UNDER PROTECTED
DESIGNATIONS, WHETHER BY VIRTUE OF ITALY'S
AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS OR BY THE OTHER
DEFINITIONS, ITALY COULD BOOST THE
UNPROTECTED INTO THE REALM OF THE PROTECTED.
GLOBALIZATION HAS THE OPPOSITE POTENTIAL; IT
COULD DEGRADE THESE UNIQUE PRODUCTS INTO THE
REALM OF THE COMMONPLACE AND BORING. THE
OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF
ITALIAN PRODUCTION BY PROMOTING ITALIAN
PRODUCTS OF HIGH, GMO-FREE QUALITY.
8. DOWNSIDE POTENTIAL ON IMAGE OF ITALIAN
PRODUCTS
ANYTHING NEGATIVE THAT MIGHT DETRACT FROM THE
WHOLESOMENESS OR THE QUALITY OF A PRODUCT
SHOULD BE AVOIDED. BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD MAR
THE BIOLOGICAL PATRIMONY OF THE AGRICULTURAL
COMPLEX. ITALIAN CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY
SENSITIVE TO TYPICAL PRODUCTION AND
HEALTHFULNESS OF FOOD, NOT JUST DUE TO FOOD
EMERGENCIES. THIS IS ALSO THE RESULT OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE INCREASED
CONSUMERS' DISPOSABLE INCOME AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
SOPHISTICATION. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FROM
THIS INCREASED AWARENESS. AGRICULTURE IS NO
LONGER SOLELY THE PROVIDER OF SUSTENANCE, IT
ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH COLLECTIVE GOODS
SUCH AS CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND FOOD
TRADITIONS. SOCIETY LOOKS TO AGRICULTURE TO
SATISFY ITS NEED FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
9. BIODIVERSITY AND GENE FLOW
ITALY'S HILLY TOPOGRAPHY AND ITS AGRICULTURE
GIVE IT UNIQUE TERRITORIAL CHARACTERISTICS.
THE MIX OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
ENVIRONMENTS MEANS THAT THEY SHARE BORDERS
WHICH WOULD HAVE EFFECTS ON EACH OTHER. ALSO,
THE DIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE WITHIN SMALL
TERRITORIAL CONFINES COULD BE EFFECTED BY THE
CHOICE OF BIOTECH PRODUCTION. IN ITALY IT
WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ISOLATE METHODS OF
CULTIVATION BY DISTANCES BETWEEN THE
DIFFERENT TYPES, INCLUDING ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE. ITALY'S ORGANIC FOOD INDUSTRY,
THE LARGEST IN EUROPE, CANNOT PERMIT
CONTAMINATION BY BIOTECH PRODUCTION.
10. QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3160
PAGE 01 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 MEDE-00 EB-00
EXME-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /013W
-------------- 789D58 212023Z /38
R 211548Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2882
USDA FAS WASHDC 2067
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
ITALIANS ARE MOVING TOWARDS CHOICES BASED ON
QUALITY, SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO EVALUATE
BIOTECH IN A QUANTITATIVE MANNER? ITALIAN
AGRICULTURE'S OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION. IT IS TO PRODUCE QUALITY
PRODUCTS. ITALIAN CITIZENS DON'T BELIEVE THEY
ARE GOING TO FACE ANY GAPS BETWEEN FOOD
SUPPLY AND DEMAND. REFERENCE IS MADE TO AN
OCTOBER 2001 OPINION POLL WHICH IS GIVEN AS
EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOPE FOR BIOTEC
H
ONLY IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE OR IF IT COULD
BE USED TO ADDRESS FAMINE. AS FOR ITALIAN
CONSUMERS, BIOTECH SHOWS PROMISE FOR
EXPERIMENTATION OUTSIDE OF AGRICULTURE OR TO
RESOLVE PROBLEMS WHICH ITALIANS DON'T FACE.
THE SAME STUDY IS CITED AS SAYING THAT THE
MINORITY WHO FAVOR BIOTECH LOOK AT
QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE LINKED TO INCREASES IN
YIELDS OR REDUCTIONS IN THE COST OF
PRODUCTION.
11. SEEDS FOR PLANTING
WHEN ACCIDENTAL CONTAMINATION IS IN SEEDS FOR
PLANTING, THESE ARE PARTICULARLY THREATENING.
THIS CAN LEAD TO A LACK OF CONTROL OVER
PROPAGATED SPECIES. THE LACK OF NATIONALLY
PRODUCED SEEDS FREE FROM GMOS MEANS ITALY
MUST RELY ON IMPORTED SEED. THIS IS TRUE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
ESPECIALLY FOR SOY AND CORN. NATIONAL
PRODUCTION ONLY COVERS 30 PERCENT AND 50
PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF THE DEMAND FOR
THESE SEEDS. TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT IN
SEED PRODUCTION WOULD REQUIRE THAT SEED
PRODUCTION MUST INCREASE. ALTERNATIVELY,
ITALY COULD LOOK FOR SEED SOURCES FROM
COUNTRIES WHICH CAN GUARANTEE GMO-FREE SEEDS.
THE USE OF UNPOLLUTED-BY-BIOTECH SEEDS SHOULD
BE ASSURED.
12. VULNERABILITY FROM FEED IMPORTS; THE AIMS
OF EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL POLICY
THE WORLD'S EXPANSION OF ACREAGE UNDER
BIOTECH PRODUCTION IS IN A FEW COUNTRIES AND
CONCERNS ONLY A HANDFUL OF CROPS. OF THESE
ITALY IS MOST "VULNERABLE" TO CONTAMINATION
FROM SOY AND CORN. MOST BIOTECH CROPS ARE
HERBICIDE RESISTANT OR INSECT RESISTANT,
CHARACTERISTICS THAT AIM TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION AND LOWER COST. IN CONTRAST,
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED
TO LIMIT PRODUCTION AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY.
MOREOVER, ITALIAN AGRICULTURE IS THE CHIEF
PROVIDER OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN THE EU.
EUROPEAN CONSUMERS WANT HIGH QUALITY,
HEALTHFUL, GENUINE FOOD. ITALIAN PRODUCTS
SHOULD AIM TO SATISFY THAT CONSUMER DEMAND.
13. TRACEABILITY AND LABELING
FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS GENETIC CONTAMINATION
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
CAN BE LIMITED BY MEANS OF TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING. ITALY CAN AND SHOULD MAINTAIN
STRICT T&L TO ENSURE GMO-FREE PRODUCTS ARE
KEPT SEPARATELY FROM ANY THAT HAVE GMO
CONTENTS, INCLUDING MEAT FROM ANIMALS FED GMO
FEED.
14. BIOTECH RESEARCH
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO ADVANCED BIOTECH
RESEARCH EVEN WITHOUT PRODUCING TRANSGENIC
ORGANISMS. PUBLIC RESOURCES CAN BE USED FOR
PRUDENT RESEARCH, TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE
WITHOUT GOING INTO THE REALM OF AGRICULTURAL
RISK. THIS CALL TO CAUTION, COMBINED WITH
THE ABSENCE OF NEED TO INCREASE ITALIAN
YIELDS OR LOWER COSTS, CALLS INTO QUESTION
FURTHER DEBATE BY SCIENTISTS. A HYPOTHETICAL
RESEARCH PLAN SHOULD HAVE THREE PRIORITIES:
PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE BEST VARIETIES,
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF TRANSGENIC
ORGANISMS, AND PROTECTING THE CONSUMER.
15. PATENTS ON GENETIC MATERIAL
THERE IS A CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP OF
GENETIC RESOURCES SUCH AS BIOTECH SEED
PATENTS, INTO VERY FEW HANDS. THE OPTIONS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3161
PAGE 01 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
ACTION EB-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EXME-00 EUR-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- 789D60 212023Z /38
R 211548Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2883
USDA FAS WASHDC 2068
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
THAT THE HOLDERS OF GENE PATENTS HOLD IS OF
CONCERN. ITALY COULD BE VULNERABLE TO THEIR
DECISIONS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE
AGRICULTURE PLAYS WITHIN THE ECONOMY.
16. CONSUMER CHOICE AND CONSUMER EDUCATION
CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION
REGARDING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF
TRANSGENIC MATERIAL IN FOOD AND ANIMAL FEED
ON THE MARKET. THERE SHOULD BE MORE
INFORMATION ON THE PROVENANCE AND LOCALITY
WHICH CHARACTERIZE TYPICAL FOOD, AND ON THE
TRACEABILITY OF THE FOOD CHAIN TO ENSURE GMO-
FREE FOOD. COMPARING GMO CONTAMINATION TO A
FOOD EMERGENCY, THE ADVICE IS THAT ITALY
SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR A CATASTROPHE BUT PUT
INTO ACTION NOW THOSE METHODS THAT COULD
CONTAIN A FUTURE HEALTH CALAMITY. CONSUMERS
SHOULD NOT JUST BE PROTECTED FROM HARM, THEY
SHOULD HAVE IN THEIR HANDS THE MEANS TO MAKE
INFORMED CHOICES. MORE INFORMATION FOR
CONSUMERS IS NEEDED. TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING IS BEING PUT FORWARD AS AN EU
PRECONDITION TO OPENING UP THE APPROVAL
PROCESS. THERE SHOULD BE, AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, A DIRECTIVE THAT PRECEDES THE
OCTOBER 17 DEADLINE, TO MAINTAIN A SEPARATION
OF GMO AND NON-GMO FOOD
CHAINS; AND ASSURE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
THAT A TRACEABILITY AND LABELING SCHEME WILL
POINT OUT THE PRESENCE OF GMOS IN FOOD.
16. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL
REGULATIONS MOST OF THE REGULATIONS
COVERING BIOTECHNOLOGY ARE FROM THE EC. THE
NOTABLE EXCEPTION IS THE AUGUST 4, 2000
ITALIAN BAN ON FOUR EU-APPROVED BIOTECH CORN
VARIETIES, WHICH IS PERMITTED UNDER ARTICLE
12 OF 258/97. THE REPLACEMENT OF 90/220 BY
2001/18 ON OCTOBER 17, 2002, WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR TRANSGENIC VARIETIES TO BE
ADMITTED INTO THE EU. THE USE OF THE
SAFEGUARD CLAUSE UNDER ARTICLE 23 WILL ALLOW
A MEMBER STATE TO LIMIT OR PROHIBIT A PRODUCT
AUTHORIZED ENTRY BY THE COMMISSION.
17. TOLERANCE FOR ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE
ITALY'S LEGISLATIVE DECREE 212/01, ADDRESSES
THE USE OF SEEDS CONTAINING GMO MATERIAL.
THERE IS ALSO SOME AMBIGUITY BECAUSE OF A
LACK OF A TESTING METHOD WITH A RELIABLE
INDICATOR OF GMO MATERIAL. FOR THESE REASONS
THERE IS NO COMMUNITY-WIDE REGULATION OVER
BIOTECH IN SEEDS. LIKEWISE, THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE CONTINUED FOR 2002, THE "ZERO
TOLERANCE" POLICY. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO
DETERMINE ITALIAN AGRICULTURE'S FUTURE WITH
REGARD TO THIS POLICY, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE
EC.
END OF WHITE PAPER SUMMARY. SEMBLER
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME01457 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. SUMMARY: AN UNDATED WHITE PAPER ENTITLED
"TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS AND AGRICULTURE: A TIME
FOR CHOICES" WAS PUT INTO CIRCULATION IN
ITALY AFTER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GIANNI
ALEMANNO PRESENTED AN OUTLINE OF THIS
STRATEGY AT AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN THE
SECOND WEEK OF MARCH. THIS PAPER RECOUNTS THE
HISTORY OF AND DEFENDS THE ITALIAN BAN ON
FOUR EU-APPROVED GM CORN VARIETIES AND
SUGGESTS IT BE CONTINUED UNDER PLANNED EU
RULE CHANGES. FURTHERMORE, THE PAPER SUGGESTS
NATIONAL LEGISLATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE ITALIAN MARKET TO
BIOTECHNOLOGY BEYOND PROPOSED EU NORMS. IT
EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING LAWS.
2. THE PAPER ARGUES THAT THE UNIQUE
GEOGRAPHY OF ITALY, THE SMALL AGRICULTURAL
LAND HOLDINGS WHICH BORDER ON ONE ANOTHER AND
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THE NEED TO
PRESERVE REGIONAL AND TYPICAL PRODUCTS OF
HIGH VALUE IN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MARKETS
MEANS THAT THE MARKET NICHE HELD BY ITALIAN
QUALITY PRODUCTS COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE
INTRODUCTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY. CONVERSELY, A
DECISION TO MAKE ITALIAN AGRICULTURE GMO
FREE, COULD STRENGTHEN THE NICHE MARKET
OCCUPIED BY ITALIAN QUALITY PRODUCTS. END
SUMMARY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
3. THE PAPER CAME TO US FROM ASSOBIOTEC AND
MONSANTO, ORIGINATING FROM THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE U/S AMBROSIO. WE UNDERSTAND THAT
THE PAPER WILL BE USED TO INITIATE A PUBLIC
DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT TOWARD THE END OF APRIL.
COMMENT: BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW POLITICIANS
WHO WILL RISK TAKING A POSITION AGAINST THE
ANTI-BIOTECH CROWD, ONCE DEBATED PUBLICLY IN
PARLIAMENT IT WILL BE HARD TO ENLIST SUCH
SUPPORT. IF DEBATE TRANSFORMS THE PAPER INTO
GOI POLICY BY LEGISLATION OR DECREE, IT
THREATENS, AT A MINIMUM, U.S. SOY AND CORN
SEED IMPORTS, AND SOYBEAN AND MEAL IMPORTS,
WORTH ABOUT DOLS 150 MILLION, OR ABOUT ONE
FOURTH OF THE VALUE OF U.S. FOOD AND FEED
EXPORT MARKET TO ITALY. END COMMENT. EMBASSY
ROME IS CONFERRING WITH INTERLOCUTORS AND IN
A SEPTEL WILL REPORT THE REACTION OF FARM
INTEREST GROUPS. POST HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS
ABOUT THE PAPER TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
OFFICE AND HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT THOSE
CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED.
4. THE PAPER STATES THAT EU LEGISLATION DOES
NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESTRICT GMO "CONTAMINATION"
FROM ENTERING THE FOOD CHAIN. COMMENT: THIS
IS NOT A SCIENTIFIC PAPER. IN FACT THIS WHITE
PAPER REBUFFS SCIENTIFIC REASONING ON AG
BIOTECH AS USELESS AND REPETITIVE. IT UPHOLDS
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE OVER ALL
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PAGE 04 ROME 01457 01 OF 04 211632Z
APPROACHES TO BIOTECH, WHETHER THE SUBJECT BE
SCIENCE, ETHICS, OR PRODUCTION ECONOMICS. BY
OMITTING ANY SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS OR
CONSIDERING THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY,
THE PAPER IS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A SIMPLISTIC
ARGUMENT WHICH PORTRAYS BIOTECHNOLOGY AS A
THREAT TO ITALIAN HIGH VALUE PRODUCTS, AND
THAT BY EXCLUDING THEM ITALY WILL PURSUE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE ITALY'S INTERNATIONAL
REPUTATION. THE PAPER CONCLUDES THAT
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDS NO PROMISE, AND INDEED IS
A THREAT TO ITALIAN CONSUMERS, THE ITALIAN
ECONOMY, AND ITALIAN FOOD PRODUCERS. THE
PAPER'S INTENT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TITLE,
IS TO ESTABLISH A NEED FOR NATIONAL
REGULATIONS TO FURTHER RESTRICT EU
LEGISLATION ON BIOTECH TOLERANCES, TO OPPOSE
BIOTECH APPROVALS, AND TO ENHANCE
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING. END COMMENT.
5. THE PAPER'S 37 PAGES OF ARGUM
ENT FOLLOW
THESE LINES: BEGIN WHITE PAPER SUMMARY
6. FARMERS SKEPTICAL ABOUT BENEFITS OF
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH. BIOTECH AIMS TO
UNCLASSIFIED
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ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /014W
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FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2881
USDA FAS WASHDC 2066
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
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PAGE 02 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
INCREASE YIELDS QUANTITATIVELY, WHILE ITALY
IS TRYING TO SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF
DISCRIMINATING CONSUMERS WHO WANT QUALITY,
GENUINE FOOD. INCREASING YIELDS MAKES SENSE
ON A GLOBAL SCALE, BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE
IN EVERY AGRICULTURAL SETTING. IN THE ITALIAN
AGRICULTURAL COMPLEX, BIOTECH SHOULD BE
SCRUTINIZED ACCORDING TO ITALY'S
CHARACTERISTICS: ITS PREDILECTION FOR NICHE
PRODUCTS, THE TOPOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT;
SOCIAL ASPECTS INCLUDING HOW CONSUMERS VIEW
AGRICULTURE, THE PRESENCE OF BIOTECH IN FEED
INGREDIENTS, THE ROLE OF RESEARCH AND
EXPERIMENTATION; AND EU LEGISLATIVE NORMS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE REGARDING THE SEED REGIME.
AGRICULTURE IN THE EU COMMUNITY IS ALLOWING A
PROGRESSIVE PENETRATION BY BIOTECHNOLOGY
WHICH WILL DEPRIVE CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO
WORK IN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES FROM A CHOICE
TO REMAIN GMO-FREE.
7. QUALITY FOOD
THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY SECTOR
CONTRIBUTES 23 PERCENT TO ITALIAN GNP. THE
"QUALITY" OR "TRADITIONAL" FOOD PRODUCTS HAVE
EARNED ITALY A REPUTATION THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS UNDER PROTECTION
OF GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS OR OTHER
DESIGNATIONS REPRESENT 15 PERCENT OF THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
VALUE OF TOTAL FOOD PRODUCTION. THESE COULD
BE THE ENGINE FOR MORE VALUE ADDED IF THE
EXPORT OF "QUALITY" PRODUCTS EXPANDS. THERE
ARE 114 PRODUCTS UNDER EU PROTECTION BY
DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN, GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATION, OR TRADITIONAL SPECIALTY. ADD TO
THIS 440 WINES WITH VARIOUS DESIGNATIONS. BY
GETTING MORE PRODUCTS TO COME UNDER PROTECTED
DESIGNATIONS, WHETHER BY VIRTUE OF ITALY'S
AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS OR BY THE OTHER
DEFINITIONS, ITALY COULD BOOST THE
UNPROTECTED INTO THE REALM OF THE PROTECTED.
GLOBALIZATION HAS THE OPPOSITE POTENTIAL; IT
COULD DEGRADE THESE UNIQUE PRODUCTS INTO THE
REALM OF THE COMMONPLACE AND BORING. THE
OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF
ITALIAN PRODUCTION BY PROMOTING ITALIAN
PRODUCTS OF HIGH, GMO-FREE QUALITY.
8. DOWNSIDE POTENTIAL ON IMAGE OF ITALIAN
PRODUCTS
ANYTHING NEGATIVE THAT MIGHT DETRACT FROM THE
WHOLESOMENESS OR THE QUALITY OF A PRODUCT
SHOULD BE AVOIDED. BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD MAR
THE BIOLOGICAL PATRIMONY OF THE AGRICULTURAL
COMPLEX. ITALIAN CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY
SENSITIVE TO TYPICAL PRODUCTION AND
HEALTHFULNESS OF FOOD, NOT JUST DUE TO FOOD
EMERGENCIES. THIS IS ALSO THE RESULT OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE INCREASED
CONSUMERS' DISPOSABLE INCOME AND
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PAGE 04 ROME 01457 02 OF 04 211633Z
SOPHISTICATION. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FROM
THIS INCREASED AWARENESS. AGRICULTURE IS NO
LONGER SOLELY THE PROVIDER OF SUSTENANCE, IT
ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH COLLECTIVE GOODS
SUCH AS CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND FOOD
TRADITIONS. SOCIETY LOOKS TO AGRICULTURE TO
SATISFY ITS NEED FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
9. BIODIVERSITY AND GENE FLOW
ITALY'S HILLY TOPOGRAPHY AND ITS AGRICULTURE
GIVE IT UNIQUE TERRITORIAL CHARACTERISTICS.
THE MIX OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
ENVIRONMENTS MEANS THAT THEY SHARE BORDERS
WHICH WOULD HAVE EFFECTS ON EACH OTHER. ALSO,
THE DIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE WITHIN SMALL
TERRITORIAL CONFINES COULD BE EFFECTED BY THE
CHOICE OF BIOTECH PRODUCTION. IN ITALY IT
WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ISOLATE METHODS OF
CULTIVATION BY DISTANCES BETWEEN THE
DIFFERENT TYPES, INCLUDING ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE. ITALY'S ORGANIC FOOD INDUSTRY,
THE LARGEST IN EUROPE, CANNOT PERMIT
CONTAMINATION BY BIOTECH PRODUCTION.
10. QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3160
PAGE 01 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 MEDE-00 EB-00
EXME-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /013W
-------------- 789D58 212023Z /38
R 211548Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2882
USDA FAS WASHDC 2067
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
ITALIANS ARE MOVING TOWARDS CHOICES BASED ON
QUALITY, SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO EVALUATE
BIOTECH IN A QUANTITATIVE MANNER? ITALIAN
AGRICULTURE'S OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION. IT IS TO PRODUCE QUALITY
PRODUCTS. ITALIAN CITIZENS DON'T BELIEVE THEY
ARE GOING TO FACE ANY GAPS BETWEEN FOOD
SUPPLY AND DEMAND. REFERENCE IS MADE TO AN
OCTOBER 2001 OPINION POLL WHICH IS GIVEN AS
EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOPE FOR BIOTEC
H
ONLY IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE OR IF IT COULD
BE USED TO ADDRESS FAMINE. AS FOR ITALIAN
CONSUMERS, BIOTECH SHOWS PROMISE FOR
EXPERIMENTATION OUTSIDE OF AGRICULTURE OR TO
RESOLVE PROBLEMS WHICH ITALIANS DON'T FACE.
THE SAME STUDY IS CITED AS SAYING THAT THE
MINORITY WHO FAVOR BIOTECH LOOK AT
QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE LINKED TO INCREASES IN
YIELDS OR REDUCTIONS IN THE COST OF
PRODUCTION.
11. SEEDS FOR PLANTING
WHEN ACCIDENTAL CONTAMINATION IS IN SEEDS FOR
PLANTING, THESE ARE PARTICULARLY THREATENING.
THIS CAN LEAD TO A LACK OF CONTROL OVER
PROPAGATED SPECIES. THE LACK OF NATIONALLY
PRODUCED SEEDS FREE FROM GMOS MEANS ITALY
MUST RELY ON IMPORTED SEED. THIS IS TRUE
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PAGE 03 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
ESPECIALLY FOR SOY AND CORN. NATIONAL
PRODUCTION ONLY COVERS 30 PERCENT AND 50
PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF THE DEMAND FOR
THESE SEEDS. TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT IN
SEED PRODUCTION WOULD REQUIRE THAT SEED
PRODUCTION MUST INCREASE. ALTERNATIVELY,
ITALY COULD LOOK FOR SEED SOURCES FROM
COUNTRIES WHICH CAN GUARANTEE GMO-FREE SEEDS.
THE USE OF UNPOLLUTED-BY-BIOTECH SEEDS SHOULD
BE ASSURED.
12. VULNERABILITY FROM FEED IMPORTS; THE AIMS
OF EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL POLICY
THE WORLD'S EXPANSION OF ACREAGE UNDER
BIOTECH PRODUCTION IS IN A FEW COUNTRIES AND
CONCERNS ONLY A HANDFUL OF CROPS. OF THESE
ITALY IS MOST "VULNERABLE" TO CONTAMINATION
FROM SOY AND CORN. MOST BIOTECH CROPS ARE
HERBICIDE RESISTANT OR INSECT RESISTANT,
CHARACTERISTICS THAT AIM TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION AND LOWER COST. IN CONTRAST,
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED
TO LIMIT PRODUCTION AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY.
MOREOVER, ITALIAN AGRICULTURE IS THE CHIEF
PROVIDER OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN THE EU.
EUROPEAN CONSUMERS WANT HIGH QUALITY,
HEALTHFUL, GENUINE FOOD. ITALIAN PRODUCTS
SHOULD AIM TO SATISFY THAT CONSUMER DEMAND.
13. TRACEABILITY AND LABELING
FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS GENETIC CONTAMINATION
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PAGE 04 ROME 01457 03 OF 04 211633Z
CAN BE LIMITED BY MEANS OF TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING. ITALY CAN AND SHOULD MAINTAIN
STRICT T&L TO ENSURE GMO-FREE PRODUCTS ARE
KEPT SEPARATELY FROM ANY THAT HAVE GMO
CONTENTS, INCLUDING MEAT FROM ANIMALS FED GMO
FEED.
14. BIOTECH RESEARCH
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO ADVANCED BIOTECH
RESEARCH EVEN WITHOUT PRODUCING TRANSGENIC
ORGANISMS. PUBLIC RESOURCES CAN BE USED FOR
PRUDENT RESEARCH, TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE
WITHOUT GOING INTO THE REALM OF AGRICULTURAL
RISK. THIS CALL TO CAUTION, COMBINED WITH
THE ABSENCE OF NEED TO INCREASE ITALIAN
YIELDS OR LOWER COSTS, CALLS INTO QUESTION
FURTHER DEBATE BY SCIENTISTS. A HYPOTHETICAL
RESEARCH PLAN SHOULD HAVE THREE PRIORITIES:
PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE BEST VARIETIES,
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF TRANSGENIC
ORGANISMS, AND PROTECTING THE CONSUMER.
15. PATENTS ON GENETIC MATERIAL
THERE IS A CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP OF
GENETIC RESOURCES SUCH AS BIOTECH SEED
PATENTS, INTO VERY FEW HANDS. THE OPTIONS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3161
PAGE 01 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
ACTION EB-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EXME-00 EUR-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- 789D60 212023Z /38
R 211548Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2883
USDA FAS WASHDC 2068
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001457
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR HEGWOOD
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY;
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE; FAA/NE/WILSON;
DOS/EB/TPP/ATT; EUR/ERA; E-ASHUM; EB-GADSDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU ETRD SENV EU IT ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA ITEAGR ICSCA
REF: ROME 01405
SUBJECT: ITALIAN WHITE PAPER ON AGRICULTURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
BIOTECHNOLOGY
THAT THE HOLDERS OF GENE PATENTS HOLD IS OF
CONCERN. ITALY COULD BE VULNERABLE TO THEIR
DECISIONS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE
AGRICULTURE PLAYS WITHIN THE ECONOMY.
16. CONSUMER CHOICE AND CONSUMER EDUCATION
CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION
REGARDING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF
TRANSGENIC MATERIAL IN FOOD AND ANIMAL FEED
ON THE MARKET. THERE SHOULD BE MORE
INFORMATION ON THE PROVENANCE AND LOCALITY
WHICH CHARACTERIZE TYPICAL FOOD, AND ON THE
TRACEABILITY OF THE FOOD CHAIN TO ENSURE GMO-
FREE FOOD. COMPARING GMO CONTAMINATION TO A
FOOD EMERGENCY, THE ADVICE IS THAT ITALY
SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR A CATASTROPHE BUT PUT
INTO ACTION NOW THOSE METHODS THAT COULD
CONTAIN A FUTURE HEALTH CALAMITY. CONSUMERS
SHOULD NOT JUST BE PROTECTED FROM HARM, THEY
SHOULD HAVE IN THEIR HANDS THE MEANS TO MAKE
INFORMED CHOICES. MORE INFORMATION FOR
CONSUMERS IS NEEDED. TRACEABILITY AND
LABELING IS BEING PUT FORWARD AS AN EU
PRECONDITION TO OPENING UP THE APPROVAL
PROCESS. THERE SHOULD BE, AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, A DIRECTIVE THAT PRECEDES THE
OCTOBER 17 DEADLINE, TO MAINTAIN A SEPARATION
OF GMO AND NON-GMO FOOD
CHAINS; AND ASSURE
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PAGE 03 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
THAT A TRACEABILITY AND LABELING SCHEME WILL
POINT OUT THE PRESENCE OF GMOS IN FOOD.
16. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL
REGULATIONS MOST OF THE REGULATIONS
COVERING BIOTECHNOLOGY ARE FROM THE EC. THE
NOTABLE EXCEPTION IS THE AUGUST 4, 2000
ITALIAN BAN ON FOUR EU-APPROVED BIOTECH CORN
VARIETIES, WHICH IS PERMITTED UNDER ARTICLE
12 OF 258/97. THE REPLACEMENT OF 90/220 BY
2001/18 ON OCTOBER 17, 2002, WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR TRANSGENIC VARIETIES TO BE
ADMITTED INTO THE EU. THE USE OF THE
SAFEGUARD CLAUSE UNDER ARTICLE 23 WILL ALLOW
A MEMBER STATE TO LIMIT OR PROHIBIT A PRODUCT
AUTHORIZED ENTRY BY THE COMMISSION.
17. TOLERANCE FOR ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE
ITALY'S LEGISLATIVE DECREE 212/01, ADDRESSES
THE USE OF SEEDS CONTAINING GMO MATERIAL.
THERE IS ALSO SOME AMBIGUITY BECAUSE OF A
LACK OF A TESTING METHOD WITH A RELIABLE
INDICATOR OF GMO MATERIAL. FOR THESE REASONS
THERE IS NO COMMUNITY-WIDE REGULATION OVER
BIOTECH IN SEEDS. LIKEWISE, THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE CONTINUED FOR 2002, THE "ZERO
TOLERANCE" POLICY. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO
DETERMINE ITALIAN AGRICULTURE'S FUTURE WITH
REGARD TO THIS POLICY, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE
EC.
END OF WHITE PAPER SUMMARY. SEMBLER
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PAGE 04 ROME 01457 04 OF 04 211633Z
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME01457 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED