AgroPages-France sets genetically modified authority dates-Agricultural news

France will set about creating a new authority, responsible for genetically modified crops, before Christmas, French news agency AFP reports. In an interview with Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, he said that a proposed decree, on setting up the authority, would be brought to Parliament for adoption before February 9th 2008.

The move follows the country's recent turnaround on GM crops. France suspended the cultivation of all GM crops in October until a new authority, which was to be created by the end of this year, provided the government with further information. French and international industry players heavily criticised the move at the time.

In response to Minister Borloo's schedule, French agricultural industry groups have outlined demands for the authority that is to bring back GM crops to the country. The French agrochemical industry association, the UIPP, formulated the concerns, along with the seed association, the GNIS, the oilseed industry association, the OLEOSEM, and the maize chamber of commerce, the SEPROMA.

The industry stakeholders demand that the responsible authority should have sufficient means to drive the relevant evaluations on the environmental and health impacts, as well as on the benefits, of GM crops. The authority also needs to inform the general public of its activities and its evaluation results, they say. This should convey a scientific message in such a way that it is "finally heard and respected", they add.

The functioning of the authority needs to guarantee independent and objective expertise that does not cause delays, the stakeholders warn. It should round up numerous and well-known experts' evaluations but avoid mixing different types of assessments. The authority should clearly separate scientific evaluations, on a case-by-case basis, from consultations with socio-economic actors that deal with broader issues linked to GM crops, the stakeholders add.

The authority has to guard against a "militant" drive that could see it ending or rejecting innovation systematically. The selection of its members should be guided by the acceptance of their expert opinions among their peers while equitably representing different views, the industry groups say.

Once the government has created the authority, the industry demands that a working method be rapidly put into place. This demand is to ensure that the authority starts work as soon as possible, either to conduct evaluations or authorise commercial GM crops.