Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3390
2002-07-10 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
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 02 ROME 003390
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM,
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY, USDA/FAS/ITP
MACKEY, RICHIE, AND OS HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
NSC FOR EDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD ECON ETRD EU EUEAGR
SUBJECT: ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
STILL THINKING ABOUT EU CHEMICALS REFORM
REF: A. STATE 98591
B. STATE 52550
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003390
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM,
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY, USDA/FAS/ITP
MACKEY, RICHIE, AND OS HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
NSC FOR EDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD ECON ETRD EU EUEAGR
SUBJECT: ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
STILL THINKING ABOUT EU CHEMICALS REFORM
REF: A. STATE 98591
B. STATE 52550
1. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE FOR DEPT.; SEE PARA 8. ESTCOUNS
MET WITH MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT EU AFFAIRS OFFICERS ON MAY
30 TO DISCUSS THE EU PROPOSALS FOR TRACEABILITY AND LABELING
OF GMO EVENTS, AND TO DISCUSS ITALIAN VIEWS TOWARD EU
CHEMICALS REFORM.
2. FINDING THE RIGHT GOI MINISTRY WITH WHICH TO DISCUSS
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING WAS A CHALLENGE. WE WERE REBUFFED
BY MFA, FOREIGN TRADE, AGRICULTURE, HEALTH AND EU AFFAIRS.
ALL POINTED US TO THE MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT (MOG),WHICH HAS
HANDLED THE ACCOUNT WITHOUT MUCH ENTHUSIASM, MUCH PROFILE, OR
MUCH ATTENTION BEYOND THE TECHNICAL LEVEL.
3. HEAD OF MOE'S EU AFFAIRS OFFICE GIULIANA GASPARINI TOLD
EST COUNS THAT THE GOI HAD NOT TAKEN A CONSOLIDATED POSITION
ON THE TRACEABILITY AND LABELING PROPOSALS BECAUSE OF THE NOW
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
FAMILIAR SPLIT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. ACCORDING TO GASPARINI, HEALTH
OPPOSES BIOTECH TRACEABILITY UNLESS HEALTH ISSUES (POSSIBLE
ALLERGENS, CHANGED NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION) ARE INTRODUCED BY
THE BIOTECH PRODUCT. SHE SAID AGRICULTURE BELIEVES THAT THE
PROPOSED TRACEABILITY RULES DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH (WE KNOW
THAT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ALEMANNO LOBBIED HEAVILY TO EU
PARLIAMENTARIANS BEFORE THE EP VOTE),AND SHOULD INCLUDE
TRACEABILITY THROUGH ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHEN BIOTECH FEED IS
INVOLVED. THE MINISTRIES AGREE THAT LABELING IS NECESSARY TO
RESPOND TO CONSUMER DEMANDS.
4. WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, A SIMILAR SPLIT
EXISTS. CONSULTANT SPECIALISTS WITHIN MOE FROM THE FORMER
AMATO GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING ON TRACEABILITY AND LABELING.
THESE INCLUDE FORMER GREEN PEACE ANTI-GMO ACTIVISTS WHO SEE
BURDENSOME AND EXACTING T AND L AS A WAY TO BLOCK GMOS IN
ITALY AND THE EU, ACCORDING TO GASPARINI. A MORE MODERATE
FACTION WITHIN MOE, LED BY DG FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS CLINI
AND INCLUDING GASPARINI HERSELF, ARE ARGUING FOR REALISTIC
RULES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. GASPARINI EXPLAINED THAT THIS
WOULD INCLUDE "REASONABLE" THRESHOLDS FOR ADVENTITIOUS
PRESENCE (AP) (BY WHICH IS MEANT 0.3-0.7 PERCENT FOR FOODS
AND FEEDS) AND SOME ACCOMMODATION ON BIOTECH PRODUCTS LIKE
OILS WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTS
AFTER PROCESSING. THE ISSUE OF AP IN SEEDS FOR PLANTING IS
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR ITALY BECAUSE THE EU PROPOSALS DO
NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SEEDS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE MINISTRY
OF AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ARGUE ITS ZERO THRESHOLD
PROPOSAL AS A MEMBER STATE'S RIGHT TO SET STANDARDS AND RULES
WHERE NONE ARE PROVIDED BY BRUSSELS.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
5. GASPARINI SAID THAT THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT IS MOVING
CAUTIOUSLY TO FIND A BRIDGE FROM ITALIAN VIEWS THROUGH THE EU
PROPOSALS TO A MORE "OPEN" APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY BASED ON
SCIENCE. SHE DID NOT EXPECT MUCH CLARIFICATION OF ITALIAN
POSITIONS IN THE NEAR TERM, NOTING THAT THE SPANISH
PRESIDENCY HAS DECIDED NOT TO DEAL FURTHER WITH
BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND THAT THE DANES HAD SET THE FIRST
ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL MEETING OF THEIR PRESIDENCY FOR
MID-OCTOBER.
6. COMMENT: THE TRACEABILITY AND LABELING ISSUE IS MAKING ITS
WAY SLOWLY UPWARD FROM TECHNICIAN-BUREAUCRATS WHO REMAIN
STEADFASTLY ANTI-BIOTECH. MOE REPRESENTATIVES AT A RECENT
MEETING CONVENED BY THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT AT THE EU
AFFAIRS MINISTRY DID NOT CLEAR THEIR VIEWS WITH THE
MINISTER'S OR DG'S OFFICE AND JOINED THE AG MINISTRY ON
ARGUING THAT THE EU PROPOSALS WERE TOO LIBERAL. LOWER
RANKING MOE OFFICIALS ARE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK AGAINST THE
MEMBER STATE "CONSENSUS" AT TECHNICAL MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS.
AT THE DIRECTOR GENERAL LEVEL, THERE IS GROWING RECOGNITION
WITHIN THE MOE THAT A COHERENT POLICY IS REQUIRED FOR THE
LONG TERM. END COMMENT.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8772
PAGE 01 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DODE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 E-00
FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01
OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /010W
-------------- C92039 101321Z /38
R 101327Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4734
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
NSC WASHDC
USDA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003390
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM,
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY, USDA/FAS/ITP
MACKEY, RICHIE, AND OS HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
NSC FOR EDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD ECON ETRD EU EUEAGR
SUBJECT: ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
STILL THINKING ABOUT EU CHEMICALS REFORM
--------------
EU CHEMICALS REFORM ON THE SLOW TRACK
--------------
7. GIORGIO SUBINI, WITHIN THE SAME MOE OFFICE, IS THE
TECHNICAL EXPERT PARTICIPATING IN THE EU CHEMICAL REFORM
PROCESS. WHEN REMINDED ABOUT U.S. VIEWS (REF B),SUBINI SAID
HE UNDERSTOOD OUR CONCERNS ABOUT COSTS, SINCE THESE WERE THE
CONCERNS OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN ITALY. HE
ADMITTED THAT HE HAD YET TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH ITALIAN
INDUSTRY, THOUGH HE PLANS TO DO SO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE
ALSO SAID THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS
WERE PROCEEDING VERY QUICKLY FROM THE CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM OF
MANAGING 100,000 CHEMICALS FROM THE "POLLUTER PAYS" PRINCIPLE
TO PRACTICAL WORK.
8. COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: THE SIZE AND ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE OF ITALY'S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (WITH A U.S.
INVESTMENT OF USD 2.3 BILLION),AND THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT
OUTREACH BY MOE, MAY CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
BRIEF SELECTED CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS IN ITALY ON THE
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE EU REFORM, AND WOULD APPRECIATE
KNOWING ABOUT EFFORTS MADE ALREADY BY INDUSTRY TO CONTACT
ITALIAN FIRMS.
SEMBLER
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME03390 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM,
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY, USDA/FAS/ITP
MACKEY, RICHIE, AND OS HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
NSC FOR EDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD ECON ETRD EU EUEAGR
SUBJECT: ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
STILL THINKING ABOUT EU CHEMICALS REFORM
REF: A. STATE 98591
B. STATE 52550
1. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE FOR DEPT.; SEE PARA 8. ESTCOUNS
MET WITH MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT EU AFFAIRS OFFICERS ON MAY
30 TO DISCUSS THE EU PROPOSALS FOR TRACEABILITY AND LABELING
OF GMO EVENTS, AND TO DISCUSS ITALIAN VIEWS TOWARD EU
CHEMICALS REFORM.
2. FINDING THE RIGHT GOI MINISTRY WITH WHICH TO DISCUSS
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING WAS A CHALLENGE. WE WERE REBUFFED
BY MFA, FOREIGN TRADE, AGRICULTURE, HEALTH AND EU AFFAIRS.
ALL POINTED US TO THE MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT (MOG),WHICH HAS
HANDLED THE ACCOUNT WITHOUT MUCH ENTHUSIASM, MUCH PROFILE, OR
MUCH ATTENTION BEYOND THE TECHNICAL LEVEL.
3. HEAD OF MOE'S EU AFFAIRS OFFICE GIULIANA GASPARINI TOLD
EST COUNS THAT THE GOI HAD NOT TAKEN A CONSOLIDATED POSITION
ON THE TRACEABILITY AND LABELING PROPOSALS BECAUSE OF THE NOW
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
FAMILIAR SPLIT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. ACCORDING TO GASPARINI, HEALTH
OPPOSES BIOTECH TRACEABILITY UNLESS HEALTH ISSUES (POSSIBLE
ALLERGENS, CHANGED NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION) ARE INTRODUCED BY
THE BIOTECH PRODUCT. SHE SAID AGRICULTURE BELIEVES THAT THE
PROPOSED TRACEABILITY RULES DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH (WE KNOW
THAT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ALEMANNO LOBBIED HEAVILY TO EU
PARLIAMENTARIANS BEFORE THE EP VOTE),AND SHOULD INCLUDE
TRACEABILITY THROUGH ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHEN BIOTECH FEED IS
INVOLVED. THE MINISTRIES AGREE THAT LABELING IS NECESSARY TO
RESPOND TO CONSUMER DEMANDS.
4. WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, A SIMILAR SPLIT
EXISTS. CONSULTANT SPECIALISTS WITHIN MOE FROM THE FORMER
AMATO GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING ON TRACEABILITY AND LABELING.
THESE INCLUDE FORMER GREEN PEACE ANTI-GMO ACTIVISTS WHO SEE
BURDENSOME AND EXACTING T AND L AS A WAY TO BLOCK GMOS IN
ITALY AND THE EU, ACCORDING TO GASPARINI. A MORE MODERATE
FACTION WITHIN MOE, LED BY DG FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS CLINI
AND INCLUDING GASPARINI HERSELF, ARE ARGUING FOR REALISTIC
RULES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. GASPARINI EXPLAINED THAT THIS
WOULD INCLUDE "REASONABLE" THRESHOLDS FOR ADVENTITIOUS
PRESENCE (AP) (BY WHICH IS MEANT 0.3-0.7 PERCENT FOR FOODS
AND FEEDS) AND SOME ACCOMMODATION ON BIOTECH PRODUCTS LIKE
OILS WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTS
AFTER PROCESSING. THE ISSUE OF AP IN SEEDS FOR PLANTING IS
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR ITALY BECAUSE THE EU PROPOSALS DO
NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SEEDS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE MINISTRY
OF AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ARGUE ITS ZERO THRESHOLD
PROPOSAL AS A MEMBER STATE'S RIGHT TO SET STANDARDS AND RULES
WHERE NONE ARE PROVIDED BY BRUSSELS.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03390 01 OF 02 101320Z
5. GASPARINI SAID THAT THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT IS MOVING
CAUTIOUSLY TO FIND A BRIDGE FROM ITALIAN VIEWS THROUGH THE EU
PROPOSALS TO A MORE "OPEN" APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY BASED ON
SCIENCE. SHE DID NOT EXPECT MUCH CLARIFICATION OF ITALIAN
POSITIONS IN THE NEAR TERM, NOTING THAT THE SPANISH
PRESIDENCY HAS DECIDED NOT TO DEAL FURTHER WITH
BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND THAT THE DANES HAD SET THE FIRST
ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL MEETING OF THEIR PRESIDENCY FOR
MID-OCTOBER.
6. COMMENT: THE TRACEABILITY AND LABELING ISSUE IS MAKING ITS
WAY SLOWLY UPWARD FROM TECHNICIAN-BUREAUCRATS WHO REMAIN
STEADFASTLY ANTI-BIOTECH. MOE REPRESENTATIVES AT A RECENT
MEETING CONVENED BY THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT AT THE EU
AFFAIRS MINISTRY DID NOT CLEAR THEIR VIEWS WITH THE
MINISTER'S OR DG'S OFFICE AND JOINED THE AG MINISTRY ON
ARGUING THAT THE EU PROPOSALS WERE TOO LIBERAL. LOWER
RANKING MOE OFFICIALS ARE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK AGAINST THE
MEMBER STATE "CONSENSUS" AT TECHNICAL MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS.
AT THE DIRECTOR GENERAL LEVEL, THERE IS GROWING RECOGNITION
WITHIN THE MOE THAT A COHERENT POLICY IS REQUIRED FOR THE
LONG TERM. END COMMENT.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8772
PAGE 01 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DODE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 E-00
FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01
OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /010W
-------------- C92039 101321Z /38
R 101327Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4734
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
NSC WASHDC
USDA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003390
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM,
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY, USDA/FAS/ITP
MACKEY, RICHIE, AND OS HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
NSC FOR EDSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD ECON ETRD EU EUEAGR
SUBJECT: ITALY SPLIT ON BIOTECH TRACEABILITY AND LABELING,
STILL THINKING ABOUT EU CHEMICALS REFORM
--------------
EU CHEMICALS REFORM ON THE SLOW TRACK
--------------
7. GIORGIO SUBINI, WITHIN THE SAME MOE OFFICE, IS THE
TECHNICAL EXPERT PARTICIPATING IN THE EU CHEMICAL REFORM
PROCESS. WHEN REMINDED ABOUT U.S. VIEWS (REF B),SUBINI SAID
HE UNDERSTOOD OUR CONCERNS ABOUT COSTS, SINCE THESE WERE THE
CONCERNS OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN ITALY. HE
ADMITTED THAT HE HAD YET TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH ITALIAN
INDUSTRY, THOUGH HE PLANS TO DO SO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE
ALSO SAID THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS
WERE PROCEEDING VERY QUICKLY FROM THE CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM OF
MANAGING 100,000 CHEMICALS FROM THE "POLLUTER PAYS" PRINCIPLE
TO PRACTICAL WORK.
8. COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: THE SIZE AND ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE OF ITALY'S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (WITH A U.S.
INVESTMENT OF USD 2.3 BILLION),AND THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT
OUTREACH BY MOE, MAY CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03390 02 OF 02 101320Z
BRIEF SELECTED CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS IN ITALY ON THE
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE EU REFORM, AND WOULD APPRECIATE
KNOWING ABOUT EFFORTS MADE ALREADY BY INDUSTRY TO CONTACT
ITALIAN FIRMS.
SEMBLER
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME03390 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED