POSITIVE BIOTECH DEVELOPMENTS IN SPAIN

UNCLAS MADRID 002663

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT (DMALAC); STATE PASS FAS (BSIMMIONS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO SP
SUBJECT: POSITIVE BIOTECH DEVELOPMENTS IN SPAIN



1. The local Monsanto representative has reported that the
Spanish Interministerial GMOs Commission (composed of the
Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Health, Education and
Science, and Industry, Tourism and Trade) took the following
positive decisions at its 7/13/05 meeting.

a) Monsanto's application to permit cultivation in Europe of
the NK603 Roundup Ready corn variety will be transferred to
the European Commission with a positive risk evaluation.

b) The Director of the Spanish Food Safety Agency said he
would contact the European Food Safety Agency and defend the
positive scientific evaluation of the MON863 variety.

c) The Ministry of Agriculture was given the authority to
approve new varieties derived from MON810.

d) The Interministerial Commission reportedly agreed to
continue case by case decisions with respect to future EU
Council votes. The Commission will usually abstain when
approvals may compete with local production and vote
positively when cultivation applications are supported by
Spanish producers and industry.


2. Comment: The local Monsanto representative characterized
the 7/13/05 decisions as "great news". Industry and Embassy
efforts (DCM's May 13 letter to the Ministry of Environment
with copies to Agriculture and Trade plus other high-level
demarches to GOS officials) may have contributed to this
outcome. No doubt though there will continue to be good and
bad days for ag biotech in Spain. The attitude with respect
to upcoming votes is troubling as it indicates that with
respect to ag biotech decisions, protectionist motives, as
well as undue deference to scientifically unfounded
environmental opinions, influence Spanish policy.
AGUIRRE