Europe rejects GM potatoes

Friends of the Earth (Malta) has welcomed the rejection by the EU member states of the latest application to grow genetically modified (GM) potatoes in Europe.

There have now been no new GMOs grown in the EU for ten years. Today's vote was on an application to grow the genetically modified potato for use in industrial processes, like paper making.

The producer - German chemicals giant BASF - has also applied for approval to use the potato in food and animal feed, and acknowledges that contamination of the food chain is possible.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave the GM potato the green light, but has been criticised for overlooking several important health and environmental risks

BASF admits that food contamination is likely: the potato has been genetically modified by the chemical giant BASF to increase its amylopectin content, which is used to produce starch.

Although it is not intended to enter the food chain, BASF have issued a separate application for use in human food and animal feed, stating that "it cannot be excluded that amylopectin potato may be used as or may be present in food".

The risk of contaminating future crops is ignored. As they grow underground, it is virtually impossible to harvest all potatoes from a crop.

Potatoes, therefore, grow back the following years and future crops could be contaminated with the genetically modified variant.

The big GMO companies claim that using genetically modified potatoes in industrial processes is environment-friendly, but this is absurd considering the associated health and environmental risks, Friends of the Earth said.

Many of the studies made so far have pointed out the risks of growing and consuming GMO products. Yet, in most cases, companies would not be liable for any environmental, consumer health or economic damage resulting from GMOs.

Friends of the Earth commends the government for wisely applying the precautionary principle.