Commission publishes guidelines for coexistence strategies and best practices
The European Commission has published a list of guidelines, based on research results, to help Member States develop strategies and best practices for the coexistence of genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional and organic farming. The guidelines note that many factors that determine what is efficient and cost-effective in coexistence practices are often specific to national and regional characteristics and farming practices, which may vary greatly from one Member State to another and within national territories themselves. In light of this, the guidelines set out the general principles and the technical and procedural aspects to be taken into account, as well as possible actions that could be tailored for implementation at national, regional or local level. Commenting on the guidelines, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, highlighted the need to adapt coexistence strategies to their environment: 'We want to ensure that farmers are able to cultivate the types of agricultural crops they choose, be it GM crops, conventional or organic crops. This is why we need measures to ensure their coexistence. What is an efficient and cost-effective best practice is specific to national and regional or local conditions. This makes an EU-wide 'one-size-fits-all' approach unworkable,' he said. According to the general principles of the guidelines, approaches to coexistence need to be developed in a transparent way, based on scientific evidence and in cooperation with all concerned. Such transparency should ensure an equitable balance between the interests of farmers of all production types. In this vein, the guidelines state that farmers should be able to choose the production type they prefer, without imposing the necessity to change already-established production patterns in the neighbourhood. As a general principle, during the introduction phase of a new production type in a region, farmers who introduce the new production type should bear the responsibility of implementing the actions necessary to limit admixture. In addition to recognising the local and regional aspects of coexistence, the guidelines note that measures should also be specific to different types of crop, since the probability of admixture varies greatly from one crop to another; while for crops like oil seed rape, the probability is high, the probability is much lower for crops such as potatoes. Continuous monitoring and evaluation and the timely sharing of best practices are also indicated as imperatives for improving measures over time. It is expected that the guidelines will complement the comprehensive regulatory framework that the EU has set up for dealing with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as food and feed produced from such an organism.