SLOVAKIA FOR NEW BT CORN VARIETIES, AGAINST ZERO TOLERANCE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000446 SIPDIS STATE EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR MARCELLA SZYMANSKI AND JACK BOBO, OES FOR DANIELLE WOOD, EUR/ERA USDA/FAS FOR STEVE FROGGETT WARSAW FOR FAS AND ECON SECTIONS PRAGUE FOR FAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN TBIO USTR LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA FOR NEW BT CORN VARIETIES, AGAINST ZERO TOLERANCE REF: STATE 106819 ¶1. We delivered reftel points to Dr. Milan Pesko in the Ministry of Agriculture's Office for Genetically Modified Food and Scientific Cooperation and Igor Ferencik in the Ministry of Environment's Biosafety Department. Both of them indicated Slovakia would vote favorably in the two October 19 biotech votes, in the EU Agriculture Council for the three maize varieties for import from Monsanto and Pioneer and in the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health on the two products for import, MIR604 maize and the renewal of Syngenta's Bt11 maize. We reiterated that a favorable view toward biotech needed to be followed with a vote of yes; abstention is not enough. ¶2. Dr. Pesko will be in Brussels next week for the proceedings. He additionally stated that Slovakia is not in favor of the EU's zero tolerance policy for unapproved biotech products, saying that a low level presence policy made more sense. He said Slovakia would be prepared to share its position if the issue is put on the agenda. We encouraged Slovakia to be proactive and advocate more broadly for its position. Pesko's statements square with what we have heard from other agriculture officials, up to and including the Minister of Agriculture, who have indicated support for biotech in Slovakia and opposition to zero tolerance policies in the EU. EDDINS