Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON1251
2007-05-10 07:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PORTUGAL WILL NOT BLOCK MAY 10 BIOTECH VOTE

Tags:  EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0850
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHLI #1251 1300712
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 100712Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5844
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001251

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PASS TO USTR, USDA/FAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL WILL NOT BLOCK MAY 10 BIOTECH VOTE


REF: A. A) SECSTATE 58647

B. B) LISBON 1057

Classified By: Inga Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon,
Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d).

(C/NF) On May 4, PolEconOff delivered reftel talking points
to Rui Noronho from the Ministry of Agriculture Office of
Planning and Policies (GPPAA),urging Portugal to vote
favorably at the May 10 Standing Committee of the Food Chain
and Public Health. Noronho stated that Portugal would not
block the vote on the two stacked biotech corn varieties. On
May 8, a close Embassy contact/Portuguese biotech expert
elaborated on the Minister of Agriculture's voting
instructions. He reported in confidence that Portugal plans
to vote favorably only if there is a qualified majority. If
there is no qualified majority, Portugal plans to abstain.
(Note: While not a member of government, we have found our
contact to be the most accurate indicator of Portugal's
biotech voting (reftel B)).

Hoffman