Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA1101
2006-04-14 14:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT BANS ON GT73 OILSEED RAPE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #1101 1041436 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141436Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3115 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 1118 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1317 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 001101
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN TBIO AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT BANS ON GT73 OILSEED RAPE
REF: VIENNA 247
UNCLAS VIENNA 001101
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN TBIO AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT BANS ON GT73 OILSEED RAPE
REF: VIENNA 247
1. (U) Following up on its initial announcement in January
(reftel),the Austrian Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a
government ordinance April 13 to implement a marketing ban
on Monsanto's GT73 oilseed rape. The ordinance expires
December 31, 2008, at which time, the MoH intends to re-
assess the scientific database, according to its website.
Although the EU Commission (EC) approved GT73 in August
2005, the MoH declared that it would provide well-supported
reasons for issuing the ordinance.
2. (U) Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat cited recent
studies from the University of Vienna's Institute for
Environmental Protection and Vegetation Ecology as
justification for the ban. The studies concluded that
unintentional mingling of biotech rape with conventional
seeds along transportation routes (rails, roads, loading
platforms) is possible. The MoH website (www.bmgf.gv.at)
contains the institute's most recent study from January,
available in English. The Austrian Federal Environmental
Agency produced a separate report highlighting "inadequate
testing of the product with regard to toxicity and
allergies." The scientific committee of the Austrian
Biotechnology Commission also recommended a ban until 2008.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) The MoH ordinance, which does not appear to be
compliant with Community regulations, is consistent with the
GoA's anti-biotech position. Recently, Agriculture Minister
Josef Proell has repeatedly criticized the European Food
Safety Authority, proposing a greater role for Member State
input in the GMO approval process. In an April 13 newspaper
interview, Proell maintained that the GoA would not alter
its existing bans on biotech seeds, despite the threat of EC
action.
Kilner
SIPDIS
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN TBIO AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT BANS ON GT73 OILSEED RAPE
REF: VIENNA 247
1. (U) Following up on its initial announcement in January
(reftel),the Austrian Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a
government ordinance April 13 to implement a marketing ban
on Monsanto's GT73 oilseed rape. The ordinance expires
December 31, 2008, at which time, the MoH intends to re-
assess the scientific database, according to its website.
Although the EU Commission (EC) approved GT73 in August
2005, the MoH declared that it would provide well-supported
reasons for issuing the ordinance.
2. (U) Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat cited recent
studies from the University of Vienna's Institute for
Environmental Protection and Vegetation Ecology as
justification for the ban. The studies concluded that
unintentional mingling of biotech rape with conventional
seeds along transportation routes (rails, roads, loading
platforms) is possible. The MoH website (www.bmgf.gv.at)
contains the institute's most recent study from January,
available in English. The Austrian Federal Environmental
Agency produced a separate report highlighting "inadequate
testing of the product with regard to toxicity and
allergies." The scientific committee of the Austrian
Biotechnology Commission also recommended a ban until 2008.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) The MoH ordinance, which does not appear to be
compliant with Community regulations, is consistent with the
GoA's anti-biotech position. Recently, Agriculture Minister
Josef Proell has repeatedly criticized the European Food
Safety Authority, proposing a greater role for Member State
input in the GMO approval process. In an April 13 newspaper
interview, Proell maintained that the GoA would not alter
its existing bans on biotech seeds, despite the threat of EC
action.
Kilner