Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COPENHAGEN368
2009-08-27 15:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
DENMARK'S REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON SOY ISSUE AT
how-toVZCZCXRO2579 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHCP #0368 2391530 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 271530Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5138 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000368
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT AND EUR/ERA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS TO USTR AND USDA/FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO DK
SUBJECT: DENMARK'S REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON SOY ISSUE AT
SEPTEMBER 7 EU AGRICULTURE COUNCIL MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 86566
(U) Sensitive But Unclassified -- Protect Accordingly.
UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000368
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT AND EUR/ERA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS TO USTR AND USDA/FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO DK
SUBJECT: DENMARK'S REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON SOY ISSUE AT
SEPTEMBER 7 EU AGRICULTURE COUNCIL MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 86566
(U) Sensitive But Unclassified -- Protect Accordingly.
1. (SBU) Embassy delivered the reftel points to Lene
Moelsted Jensen, Director for Sustainability and Environment
in the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
She replied the Danish Government is aware of the issue and
that the Minister of Agriculture is "very well aware" of the
difficulties this case presents. Though Denmark will not
determine its official position on this particular case until
the Danish Parliament's EU Committee meets on September 4,
there is no reason to expect the Committee to change its
previous position in support of MON88017 approval. Denmark
officially stated that position at the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) meetings in May
2009, when it voted for the approval of MON88017 because 1)
it is a variant approved by the European Food and Safety
Authority (EFSA) and 2) it has no gene markers (an essential
point for Denmark).
2. (SBU) Denmark continues to advocate within the EU
structures for faster approval procedures for biotech
variants approved by the EFSA. It also supports the
establishment of a threshold contamination level higher than
zero. Denmark is not advocating for a particular threshold
contamination level and will likely concur with whatever
level the EC recommends, but it does not see a threshold
level of 0.9% as unrealistic.
FULTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT AND EUR/ERA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS TO USTR AND USDA/FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO DK
SUBJECT: DENMARK'S REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON SOY ISSUE AT
SEPTEMBER 7 EU AGRICULTURE COUNCIL MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 86566
(U) Sensitive But Unclassified -- Protect Accordingly.
1. (SBU) Embassy delivered the reftel points to Lene
Moelsted Jensen, Director for Sustainability and Environment
in the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
She replied the Danish Government is aware of the issue and
that the Minister of Agriculture is "very well aware" of the
difficulties this case presents. Though Denmark will not
determine its official position on this particular case until
the Danish Parliament's EU Committee meets on September 4,
there is no reason to expect the Committee to change its
previous position in support of MON88017 approval. Denmark
officially stated that position at the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) meetings in May
2009, when it voted for the approval of MON88017 because 1)
it is a variant approved by the European Food and Safety
Authority (EFSA) and 2) it has no gene markers (an essential
point for Denmark).
2. (SBU) Denmark continues to advocate within the EU
structures for faster approval procedures for biotech
variants approved by the EFSA. It also supports the
establishment of a threshold contamination level higher than
zero. Denmark is not advocating for a particular threshold
contamination level and will likely concur with whatever
level the EC recommends, but it does not see a threshold
level of 0.9% as unrealistic.
FULTON