Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME904
2007-05-02 11:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY ABSTAINS IN EU VOTE ON BIOTECH SUGAR BEETS
how-toVZCZCXRO3106 PP RUEHFL RUEHNP DE RUEHRO #0904 1221128 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021128Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7884 INFO RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2350 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8600 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2508 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4516 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 4474
UNCLAS ROME 000904
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR D. VETTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY ABSTAINS IN EU VOTE ON BIOTECH SUGAR BEETS
REF: STATE 50150
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution.
UNCLAS ROME 000904
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR D. VETTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY ABSTAINS IN EU VOTE ON BIOTECH SUGAR BEETS
REF: STATE 50150
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution.
1. (U) On April 19, Minister Counselor for Agricultural
Affairs delivered reftel points on EU approval for import of
biotech sugar beets and stacked biotech corn varieties to the
Italian Ministries of Agriculture and Health. Officials in
the Italian Ministries of Health and Agriculture told us
these ministries agreed to vote "yes" at the EU Standing
Committee. Embassy Rome subsequently learned that the
Italian representative at the EU's Standing Committee on Food
and Feed Safety abstained from voting, still a significant
departure for Italy, which has been a reliable "no" vote on
biotech issues in the past.
2. (SBU) The GOI's change in position is likely due to the
influence of Agriculture Minister Paolo De Castro, who has
privately assured us that he supports biotech products.
During the recent problem with the inclusion of LL601 rice in
U.S. commercial shipments to Italy, De Castro refrained from
commenting publicly on the case. De Castro, who is rumored
to aspire to be an EU Commissioner, may also be trying to
align Italy with European proponents of biotechnology and to
send the message that Italy is concentrating on science over
politics.
3. (SBU) A second driving force behind the change in GOI
policy is Under Secretary of Health Gianpaolo Patta. During
the LL601 controversy, Patta took a pragmatic approach to the
discovery of LL601 rice in shipments to Italy, listened to
his technicians and specialists, and avoided inflammatory
statements. Embassy will seek out opportunities to engage
Patta on biotech issues in an effort to gauge his position on
biotech products.
Spogli
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR D. VETTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY ABSTAINS IN EU VOTE ON BIOTECH SUGAR BEETS
REF: STATE 50150
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution.
1. (U) On April 19, Minister Counselor for Agricultural
Affairs delivered reftel points on EU approval for import of
biotech sugar beets and stacked biotech corn varieties to the
Italian Ministries of Agriculture and Health. Officials in
the Italian Ministries of Health and Agriculture told us
these ministries agreed to vote "yes" at the EU Standing
Committee. Embassy Rome subsequently learned that the
Italian representative at the EU's Standing Committee on Food
and Feed Safety abstained from voting, still a significant
departure for Italy, which has been a reliable "no" vote on
biotech issues in the past.
2. (SBU) The GOI's change in position is likely due to the
influence of Agriculture Minister Paolo De Castro, who has
privately assured us that he supports biotech products.
During the recent problem with the inclusion of LL601 rice in
U.S. commercial shipments to Italy, De Castro refrained from
commenting publicly on the case. De Castro, who is rumored
to aspire to be an EU Commissioner, may also be trying to
align Italy with European proponents of biotechnology and to
send the message that Italy is concentrating on science over
politics.
3. (SBU) A second driving force behind the change in GOI
policy is Under Secretary of Health Gianpaolo Patta. During
the LL601 controversy, Patta took a pragmatic approach to the
discovery of LL601 rice in shipments to Italy, listened to
his technicians and specialists, and avoided inflammatory
statements. Embassy will seek out opportunities to engage
Patta on biotech issues in an effort to gauge his position on
biotech products.
Spogli