KILLARNEY: Discussions were taking place in Dublin late last night between the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne, and the US Trade Representative, Mr Robert Zoellick, aimed at ending the ban on imports of beef from the US to the EU.
The ban on the import of US beef produced with the aid of hormones brought retaliatory action from the US which led to sanctions worth $200 million being imposed on EU exports to the US.
Yesterday at the close of the Agriculture Council meeting in Killarney, Mr Byrne said he was meeting Mr Zoellick in Dublin last night to attempt to put in place a comprehensive system to improve trade.
The talks, he said, would focus on establishing clearer regulations governing trade, especially in the veterinary area and in the area of agreeing on tests and labelling.
The council meeting was historic because for the first time ministers from the new EU states took a full part in the discussions. The meeting was dominated by the offer of the EU to negotiate on the ending of export subsidies and the report from Monsanto that it had abandoned plans to introduce GM (genetically modified) wheat to the world market.
This was being done despite the fact the company had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on developing the crop and was being seen as a major victory for the anti-GM lobby.
It follows pressure from US and Canadian farmers who feared the introduction of the crop would lead to the collapse of their billion dollar markets in Europe and Japan.
Commissioner Byrne said the decision not to proceed with the growth of GM wheat was a matter for the company itself. His job as was to put in place a system which protected Europe's consumers.
He said the system relating to GM produced crops was there to ensure that consumers were fully aware of the presence of GM produced foods and then it was up to the consumer to make up their minds on whether or not they would use the product.
He expected the Commission would allow the sale of tinned sweetcorn, BT11, when they discuss the matter on May 19th but that would not open the floodgates for more GM produced foods to come on the market as this would be driven by consumer demand.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, said he welcomed the decision by Monsanto not to proceed with the production of GM wheat.
Ireland's attitude to GM produced foods was "cautious", and Ireland had voted to allow the sale of BT11 on the basis that the consumer had all the information necessary. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Franz Fischler, speaking after the Agriculture Councìl meeting, said that he had not breached his mandate when he had offered further talks on export refunds in the World Trade talks.
"This is an offer and it will remain an offer and it will not become a deal until our interests are satisfied. It is a litmus test to see how serious the others are in relation to the negotiations," said Dr Fischler.
Mr Walsh said the issue had been discussed at the meeting in Killarney but not in any great detail. He said there would be a full meeting on May 24th to discuss the issue.
Mr Walsh said Dr Fischler had said he had not exceeded his mandate. He wanted to ensure that the EU did not have to pay twice because it had already cut back heavily on supports in the three recent reforms of the CAP.