PORTUGAL ON JUNE 25 BIOTECH VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001679 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO USTR, USDA/FAS, USDOC, AND EEB/TPP/ABT E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017 TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON JUNE 25 BIOTECH VOTE REF: A. STATE 86332 ¶B. LISBON 1560 ¶C. LISBON 1251 Classified By: Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon, Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d). ¶1. (C/NF) On June 21, PolEconOff delivered reftel A talking points to Rui Noronho of the Ministry of Agriculture's Office of Planning and Policies (GPPA),urging Portugal to vote favorably at the June 25 Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Public Health. Noronho reiterated the Portuguese policy not to block votes on biotech varieties approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) but did not elaborate further on Portugal's upcoming voting intentions. On June 22, a close Embassy contact and Portuguese biotech expert reported in confidence that Portugal was planning to vote favorably on the Herculex Root Worm variety. However, in regards to the stacked corn varieties, Portugal intends to only vote favorably if it is certain that there will be a qualified majority. Otherwise, it will abstain. ¶2. (C) Comment. Portugal considers itself a biotech proponent, especially in the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Public Health. It does not regard abstentions as negative/blocking and, therefore, views abstaining on the stacked corn varieties vote as supportive. Hoffman