Introduction
1
CONSEQUENCES OF PROPOSED EU LEGISLATION ON THRESHOLDS FOR THE ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (GE) SEEDS. Janet Cotter, Greenpeace Science Unit, Exeter University, Exeter, UK, EX4 4PS Introduction The EC has proposed legislation 1 to establish thresholds for the adventitious presence of EU approved genetically engineered (GE) seeds in conventional seed lots. These thresholds are: oilseed rape - 0.3 %; maize, beet, cotton - 0.5 % and soya - 0.7 %. These thresholds were chosen to give a GE content in the food product within the labelling limit (assumed to be 1 %) 2 . However, there are concerns that these proposed thresholds will result in an immediate, unprecedented release of GE plants in the EU and, in the future, the accession countries. Method Land acreage for oil seed rape, beet, maize, soybean and cotton were obtained for 2000 from annual statistics 3 for EU countries, those for Accession countries from EUROSTAT 4 . Data for silage/ forage maize are not given in the EU annual statistics, nor available from EUROSTAT for Accession countries. Data for silage/forage maize were reported only for those countries where data was readily available from national statistics and, as such, are likely to be an underestimate of the actual acreage of silage/ forage maize. Data for cotton is either not available or zero for all Accession countries. Plant densities were supplied by ADAS, UK, personal communication for mid- range target established plant populations in the UK. Planting densities for silage maize were assumed to be the same as grain maize. The total area of arable land in the EU was calculated from annual statistics 3 as the sum of main crops in 1999 and excluding land used as pasture. Using average plant densities, the number of GE plants grown at these thresholds were calculated for the EU and Accession countries. The effective acreage of GE plants and the % of EU arable area affected were also calculated. R esults 1:Im m ediate Im pactofProposed G E Seed C ontam ination D irective on EU A rable Land 10.1% (7.6 m illion ha)ofEU arable land iscurrently planted w ith m aize or oilseed rape. Sinceonevariety ofgenetically engineered (G E) oilseed rape and tw o varietiesofG E m aize already have approvalforgrow ing in the EU , allofthisland could be affected by the G E Seed Contam ination D irective. Table 1 show sby country how m any G E plantscould be released through seed contam ination acrossthe 15 European U nion countriesin the nextgrow ing season ifthe proposed thresholdsforseed contam ination are adopted. 6 850 m illion unregulated G E plantscould be released acrossthe EU . Ifplanted together, thism any G E plantsw ould representa cum ulative area of32 090 ha or 321 km 2 . Table 1 C rop areasand num ber ofplantsthatw ould be grow ing in the EU atthe proposed levelsofcontam ination for G E seed (data for 2000 unlessstated) Totalfor EU 15 i Belguim D enm ark G erm any G reece Spain France Ireland Italy L uxem bourg N ether lands A ustria Portugal Finland Sw eden UK EU 15 O ilseed rape (thousandsha) 3 035 9 99 1 096 n/l n/a 1 240 2 44 n/l 1 52 n/l 53 48 392 N o. hectaresG E at0.3 % contam ination 9 110 27 297 3 290 3 720 6 132 3 156 159 144 1 176 Plantsperhectare = 500,000 4 550 13.5 149 1 640 1 860 3.00 66.0 1.50 78.0 79.5 72.0 588 N o. G E plants(m illions) G rain m aize (thousand ha) 4 300 36 n/l 361 225 425 1 830 n/l 1 063 n/l 20 164 172 n/l n/l n/l N o. hectaresG E at0.5 % contam ination 21 500 180 1 810 1 130 2 130 9 170 5 320 100 820 860 2 150 18 181 113 213 917 532 10.0 82.0 86.0 Plantsperhectare = 100,000 N o. G E plants(m illions) Silage/forage m aize (thousand ha) 296 166 ii 1.78 iii n/a n/a n/a n/a 13 iv n/a 11.1 v n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 104 vi N o. hectaresG E at0.5 % contam ination 1 481 832 8.91 n /a n/a 65 55.3 521 148 83.2 0.891 6.50 5.53 52.1 Plantsperhectare = 100,000 N o. G E plants(m illions) N otesfor Table 1 n/a data notavailable;n/lcountry notlisted asgrow ing thatcrop;1 km 2 = 100 ha i EU 15 Totalsforthe 15 m em berstatesofthe European U nion (asof1995). ii NationalStatisticsBureau,Belgium , http://statbel.fgov.be.D ata for2001 iii D anish D irectorate forFood,Fisheriesand A gro Business, M inistry ofFood, A griculture and Fisheries. D ata for2001. iv Teagasc:Irish A griculture and Food D evelopm entAuthority. http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2002/annualreport2000/annualreport2000_3.htm .D ata for2000 R esults 2:Im pactofProposed G E Seed C ontam ination D irective on A rable Land ofEU A ccession States ( inc.Turkey)U pon Enlargem ent C lose to 6. 9 m illion hectaresofarable land in the 13 EU accession countries(inc Turkey)are currently planted w ith m aize or oilseed rape. Since one variety ofG E oilseed rape and tw o varietiesofG E m aize already have approvalforgrow ing in the EU , allofthisland could be affected by the seed contam ination directive. Table 2 show sby country how m any G E plantscould be released through seed contam ination acrossthe 13 accession countriesin ifthe proposed thresholdsforseed contam ination are adopted. 4 580 m illion unregulated G E plantscould be released acrossthe accession states. Ifplanted together, thism any G E plantsw ould representa cum ulative area of32 200 ha or 322 km 2 . A crossan enlarged EU (EU 15 plusaccession states), 11 430 m illion unregulated G E plantscould be released. Ifplanted together,thism any G E plantsw ould representa cum ulative area of64 271 ha or 642 km 2 . Table 2 C rop areasand num ber ofplantsthatw ould be grow ing atthe proposed EU levelsofcontam ination for G E seed in the A ccession States (data for 2000) Total for A ccession states Bulgaria C yprus C zech R epublic Estonia H ungary Lithuania Latvia M alta Poland Rom ania Slovenia Slovak R epublic Turkey O ilseed rape (thousandsha) 1 128 n/a n/a 324 28.8 116 55.5 6.9 n/a 437 68.4 0.122 91.7 ` N o. hectaresG E at0.3 % contam ination 3 380 972 86 347 167 21 1 310 205 0.366 275 Plantsperhectare = 500,000 N o. G E plants(m illions) 1 690 486 43.2 174 83.3 10.4 655 103 0.183 138 G rain m aize (thousand ha) 5 766 576 n/a 47.3 0 1 193 n/a 0 n/a 152 3 049 48 145 555 N o. hectaresG E at0.5 % contam ination 28 800 2 880 236 5 960 761 15 200 240 725 2 780 Plantsperhectare = 100,000 N o. G E plants(m illions) 2 880 288 23.6 596 76.1 1520 24.0 72.5 277 N otesfor Table 2 n/a data notavailable, 1 km 2 = 100 ha R esults 3:A w orst-case scenario forim pactofproposed G E Seed C ontam ination D irective on EU A rable Land (15 m em berstates plus A ccession states including Turkey) Theseed contam ination directive allowsforeventualcontam ination ofsoya, cotton and sugarbeetseedswith GE varietiesshould pending applicationsreceive a growing approval. Table3 showsby country how m any GE plantscould bereleased through seed contam ination acrossthe13 accession countriesin iftheproposed thresholdsforseed areadopted and pending applicationsare approved. 14.6% (10.3 m illion ha)ofEU arableland iscurrently planted with m aize, oilseed rape, sugarbeet, soya or cotton. 9 120 m illion unregulated G E plantscould be released acrossthe EU . Ifplanted togetherthism any G E plantswould representa cum ulativearea of46,000 ha or 460 km 2 . 4 580 m illion unregulated G E plantscould bereleased acrosstheaccession states. Ifplanted together, thism any G E plantsw ould representa cum ulative area of38 600 ha or386 km 2 . A crosstheEU 15 and accession countries(inc. Turkey)over18.3 m illion ha ofarableland arecurrently planted with soy, cotton, sugarbeet,m aizeoroilseed rape. Allofthisland could be affected by G E seed contam ination directive. In total, acrossan enlarged EU (EU 15 plusaccession states), 14 580 m illion unregulated G E plantscould be released. Ifplanted together, thism any G E plantsw ould representa cum ulativearea of84 550 ha or 845 km 2 . Table 3 C rop areasand num ber ofG E plantsthatw ould be grow ing in the15 EU statesand 13 accession statesatthe proposed levelsofcontam ination for G E seed (data for 2000) Total EU15 Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembo urg Netherlan ds Austria Portugal Finland Sweden UK Total for Accession countries Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Lithuania Latvia M alta Poland Romania Slovenia Slovak Republic Turkey O ilseed rape (thousandsha) 3 035 9 99 1 096 n/l n/a 1 240 2 44 n/a 1 52 n/l 53 48 392 1 128 n/a n/a 324 28.8 116 55.5 6.9 n/a 437 68.4 0.122 91.7 n/a N o.hectaresG E at0.3 % contamination 9 110 27 297 3 290 3 720 6 132 3 156 159 144 1 176 3 380 972 86 347 167 21 1 310 205 0.366 275 Plantsperhectare = 500,000 N o.G E plants(m illions) 4 550 13.5 149 1 640 1 860 3.00 66.0 1.50 78.0 79.5 72.0 588 1 690 486 43.2 174 83.3 10.4 655 103 0.183 137.6 G rain m aize (thousand ha) 4 300 36 n/l 361 225 425 1 830 n/l 1063 n/l 20 164 172 n/l n/l n/l 5 766 576 n/a 47.3 0 1 193 n/a 0 n/a 152 3049 48 145 555 N o.hectaresG E at0.5 % contamination 21 500 180 1 805 1 130 2 130 9 170 5320 100 820 860 28 800 2 880 236 5 960 761 15 200 240 725 2 780 Plantsperhectare = 100,000 N o.G E plants(m illions) 2 150 18 181 113 213 917 532 10.0 82.0 86.0 2 880 288 23.6 596 76.1 1 520 24.0 72.5 278 Silage/forage m aize (thousand ha) 296 166 1.78 n/a n/a n/a n/a 13 n/a 11.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 104 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a N o.hectaresG E at0.5 % contamination 1 480 832 8.91 65 55.3 521 Plantsperhectare = 100,000 N o.G E plants(m illions) 148 83.2 0.891 6.50 5.53 52.1 Soyabean thousand ha (2000 data) 349 n/l n/l 1 n/a n/a 90 n/l 242 n/l n/l 15 n/l n/l n/l n/l 147 n/a n/a 1.88 0 22.2 n/a 0 n/a n/a 117 n/a 5.91 n/a N o.hectaresG E at0.7 % contamination 2 440 7 630 1690 105 1029 13.2 155 819 41.4 Plantsperhectare = 475,000 N o.G E plants(m illions) 1 160 3 299 805 50 489 6.26 73.7 389 19.7 Sugarbeet(thousand ha) 1806 96 56 449 43 129 386 31 220 n/l 109 45 5 31 55 151 1 062 1.94 n/a 61.3 0 57.5 27.7 12.7 n/a 333 48.4 8.12 31.7 480 N o.hectaresG E at0.5 % contamination 9 030 480 280 2 250 215 645 1 930 155 1 100 545 225 25 155 275 755 5 310 9.70 306 287 139 63.5 1 670 242 40.6 158 2 400 Plantsperhectare = 75,000 N o.G E plants(m illions) 677 36.0 21.0 168 16.1 48.4 145 11.6 82.5 40.9 16.9 1.88 11.6 20.6 56.6 398 0.73 23.0 21.6 10.4 4.76 125 18.2 3.04 11.9 180 Cotton (thousand ha)) 494 n/l n/l n/l 405 88.9 n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/a n/a n/a 0 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 0 n/a n/a n/a N o.hectaresG E at0.5 % contamination 2 470 2 025 445 Seedsperhectare = 176,000 (estim ated) N o.G E plants(m illions) 435 356 78.2 N otesfor Table 3 n/a data notavailable, data sourcesforsilage/forage m aize are asforTable 1. Discussion The results demonstrate that the proposed thresholds lead to a large quantity of GE plants in Europe – 7 000 million at the best case scenario (oilseed rape and maize in the EU only) to 14 580 million in the worst case scenario (soy, sugarbeet, cotton, maize and oilseed rape across and enlarged EU). These GE plants will be unregulated, e.g. separation distances and segregation will not apply. Therefore, these plants will be able to freely cross with non-GE crops and also feral and wild relatives, especially of beet and oilseed rape. The appearance of herbicide resistant “weeds” could necessitate the widespread use more environmentally damaging herbicides. These numbers of unregulated GE plants will be allowed annually. Thus, the numbers of unregulated GE plants will increase annually. The values of 0.3%, 0.5% and 0.7% are not a reflection of how low it is possible to keep GE contamination nor do they take into consideration the environmental and agronomic impact of such contamination. It has been acknowledged that, by choosing such high levels, the amount of contamination in the final product would creep up over the long term - especially in oilseed rape 2 . Therefore, it is vital to keep GE contamination to a minimum and keep to that minimum. GE-free seed production and supply can and is being achieved by major seed suppliers at a threshold of 0.1% (the effective detection limit). In over 3 000 seed samples analysed so References 1 Draft COMMISSION DIRECTIVE ../…/Ecof … amending Council Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC and Decision 95/232/EEC as regards additional conditions and requirements concerning the presence of genetically modified seed in seed lots of non- genetically modified varieties and the details of the information required for labeling in the case of seeds of genetically modified varieties Brussels, 02.07.2002, P./secr/doc2001 /va/1542en02july2002 http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/Seed_Directive_3_July_2002.pdf 2 European Commission Scientific Committee on Plants. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants concerning the adventitious presence of GM seeds in conventional seeds. SCP/GMO-SEED-CONT/002-FINAL 13 March 2001 http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scp/out93_gmo_en.pdf 3 European Union, Directorate-General for Agriculture. Agriculture in the European Union: Statistical and Economic Information 2001. (Jan 2002) http://europa. eu. int/ omm/ agriculture/ agrista/ 2001/ table_ en/ index. Htm 4 EUROSTAT: Statistics for crop acreage in Accession countries were purchased from Data Shop Newport, UK. Details from http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/ 5 Greenpeace (2002) Save Our Seeds! Agriculture and environment threatened by GE seed contamination law. October 2002. http://www.greenpeace.org/reports/
description
CONSEQUENCES OF PROPOSED EU LEGISLATION ON THRESHOLDS FOR THE ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (GE) SEEDS. Janet Cotter, Greenpeace Science Unit, Exeter University, Exeter, UK, EX4 4PS. Introduction - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Introduction
CONSEQUENCES OF PROPOSED EU LEGISLATION ON THRESHOLDS FOR THE ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE OF
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (GE) SEEDS. Janet Cotter, Greenpeace Science Unit, Exeter University, Exeter, UK, EX4 4PS
Introduction
The EC has proposed legislation1 to establish thresholds for the adventitious
presence of EU approved genetically engineered (GE) seeds in conventional seed
lots. These thresholds are: oilseed rape - 0.3 %; maize, beet, cotton - 0.5 % and
soya - 0.7 %. These thresholds were chosen to give a GE content in the food
product within the labelling limit (assumed to be 1 %)2. However, there are
concerns that these proposed thresholds will result in an immediate,
unprecedented release of GE plants in the EU and, in the future, the accession
countries.
Method
Land acreage for oil seed rape, beet, maize, soybean and cotton were obtained for
2000 from annual statistics3 for EU countries, those for Accession countries from
EUROSTAT4. Data for silage/ forage maize are not given in the EU annual
statistics, nor available from EUROSTAT for Accession countries. Data for
silage/forage maize were reported only for those countries where data was readily
available from national statistics and, as such, are likely to be an underestimate of
the actual acreage of silage/ forage maize. Data for cotton is either not available or
zero for all Accession countries. Plant densities were supplied by ADAS, UK,
personal communication for mid- range target established plant populations in the
UK. Planting densities for silage maize were assumed to be the same as grain maize.
The total area of arable land in the EU was calculated from annual statistics3 as the
sum of main crops in 1999 and excluding land used as pasture.
Using average plant densities, the number of GE plants grown at these thresholds
were calculated for the EU and Accession countries. The effective acreage of GE
plants and the % of EU arable area affected were also calculated.
Results 1: Immediate Impact of Proposed GE Seed Contamination Directive on EU Arable Land
10.1% (7.6 million ha) of EU arable land is currently planted with maize or oilseed rape. Since one variety of genetically engineered (GE)oilseed rape and two varieties of GE maize already have approval for growing in the EU, all of this land could be affected by the GE SeedContamination Directive. Table 1 shows by country how many GE plants could be released through seed contamination across the 15 European Unioncountries in the next growing season if the proposed thresholds for seed contamination are adopted.
6 850 million unregulated GE plants could be released across the EU. If planted together, this many GE plants would represent a cumulativearea of 32 090 ha or 321 km2.
Table 1 Crop areas and number of plants that would be growing in the EU at the proposed levels of contamination for GE seed (data for 2000 unless stated)Total for
EU15iBelguim Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Nether
landsAustria Portugal Finland Sweden UKEU15
Oilseed rape (thousands ha) 3 035 9 99 1 096 n/l n/a 1 240 2 44 n/l 1 52 n/l 53 48 392No. hectares GE at 0.3 %contamination
9 110 27 297 3 290 3 720 6 132 3 156 159 144 1 176
Plants per hectare = 500,0004 550 13.5 149 1 640 1 860 3.00 66.0 1.50 78.0 79.5 72.0 588No. GE plants (millions)
Grain maize (thousand ha) 4 300 36 n/l 361 225 425 1 830 n/l 1 063 n/l 20 164 172 n/l n/l n/lNo. hectares GE at 0.5 %contamination
21 500 180 1 810 1 130 2 130 9 170 5 320 100 820 860
2 150 18 181 113 213 917 532 10.0 82.0 86.0Plants per hectare = 100,000No. GE plants (millions)
Silage/forage maize (thousand ha) 296 166ii 1.78iii n/a n/a n/a n/a 13iv n/a 11.1v n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 104vi
No. hectares GE at 0.5 %contamination
1 481 832 8.91 n /a n/a 65 55.3 521
148 83.2 0.891 6.50 5.53 52.1Plants per hectare = 100,000No. GE plants (millions)
Notes for Table 1n/a data not available; n/l country not listed as growing that crop; 1 km2 = 100 hai EU 15 Totals for the 15 member states of the European Union (as of 1995).ii National Statistics Bureau, Belgium, http://statbel.fgov.be. Data for 2001iii
Danish Directorate for Food, Fisheries and Agro Business, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Data for 2001.iv Teagasc: Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2002/annualreport2000/annualreport2000_3.htm. Data for 2000
Results 2: Impact of Proposed GE Seed Contamination Directive on Arable Land of EU Accession States (inc. Turkey) Upon Enlargement
Close to 6. 9 million hectares of arable land in the 13 EU accession countries (inc Turkey) are currently planted with maize or oilseed rape.Since one variety of GE oilseed rape and two varieties of GE maize already have approval for growing in the EU, all of this land could be affected bythe seed contamination directive. Table 2 shows by country how many GE plants could be released through seed contamination across the 13 accessioncountries in if the proposed thresholds for seed contamination are adopted.
4 580 million unregulated GE plants could be released across the accession states. If planted together, this many GE plants would represent acumulative area of 32 200 ha or 322 km2.
Across an enlarged EU (EU 15 plus accession states), 11 430 million unregulated GE plants could be released. If planted together, this manyGE plants would represent a cumulative area of 64 271 ha or 642 km2.
Table 2 Crop areas and number of plants that would be growing at the proposed EU levels of contamination for GE seed in the Accession States(data for 2000)
Total forAccession
states
Bulgaria Cyprus CzechRepublic
Estonia Hungary Lithuania Latvia Malta Poland Romania Slovenia SlovakRepublic
Turkey
Oilseed rape (thousands ha) 1 128 n/a n/a 324 28.8 116 55.5 6.9 n/a 437 68.4 0.122 91.7 `No. hectares GE at 0.3 %contamination
3 380 972 86 347 167 21 1 310 205 0.366 275
Plants per hectare = 500,000No. GE plants (millions) 1 690 486 43.2 174 83.3 10.4 655 103 0.183 138
Grain maize (thousand ha) 5 766 576 n/a 47.3 0 1 193 n/a 0 n/a 152 3 049 48 145 555No. hectares GE at 0.5 %contamination
28 800 2 880 236 5 960 761 15 200 240 725 2 780
Plants per hectare = 100,000No. GE plants (millions) 2 880 288 23.6 596 76.1 1520 24.0 72.5 277
Notes for Table 2n/a data not available, 1 km2 = 100 ha
Results 3: A worst- case scenario for impact of proposed GE Seed Contamination Directive on EU Arable Land (15 member states plus Accession states including Turkey)
The seed contamination directive allows for eventual contamination of soya, cotton and sugarbeet seeds with GE varieties should pending applications receive a growing approval. Table 3 shows by country how many GE plants could be released throughseed contamination across the 13 accession countries in if the proposed thresholds for seed are adopted and pending applications are approved.
14.6% (10.3 million ha) of EU arable land is currently planted with maize, oilseed rape, sugarbeet, soya or cotton. 9 120 million unregulated GE plants could be released across the EU. If planted together this many GE plants wouldrepresent a cumulative area of 46,000 ha or 460 km2.
4 580 million unregulated GE plants could be released across the accession states. If planted together, this many GE plants would represent a cumulative area of 38 600 ha or 386 km 2.
Across the EU15 and accession countries (inc. Turkey) over 18.3 million ha of arable land are currently planted with soy, cotton, sugarbeet, maize or oilseed rape. All of this land could be affected by GE seed contamination directive.In total, across an enlarged EU (EU 15 plus accession states), 14 580 million unregulated GE plants could be released. If planted together, this many GE plants would represent a cumulative area of 84 550 ha or 845 km 2.
Table 3 Crop areas and number of GE plants that would be growing in the 15 EU states and 13 accession states at the proposed levels of contamination for GE seed (data for 2000)
Tota
lEU
15
Belg
ium
Denm
ark
Ger
man
y
Gre
ece
Spai
n
Fran
ce
Irela
nd
Italy
Luxe
mbo
urg
Neth
erla
nds Au
stria
Port
ugal
Finl
and
Swed
en
UK Tota
l for
Acce
ssio
nco
untr
ies
Bulg
aria
Cypr
us
Czec
hRe
publ
ic
Esto
nia
Hun
gary
Lith
uani
a
Latv
ia
Mal
ta
Pola
nd
Rom
ania
Slov
enia
Slov
akRe
publ
icTu
rkey
Oilseed rape (thousands ha) 3 035 9 99 1 096 n/l n/a 1 240 2 44 n/a 1 52 n/l 53 48 392 1 128 n/a n/a 324 28.8 116 55.5 6.9 n/a 437 68.4 0.122 91.7 n/aNo. hectares GE at 0.3 % contamination 9 110 27 297 3 290 3 720 6 132 3 156 159 144 1 176 3 380 972 86 347 167 21 1 310 205 0.366 275Plants per hectare = 500,000No. GE plants (millions) 4 550 13.5 149 1 640 1 860 3.00 66.0 1.50 78.0 79.5 72.0 588 1 690 486 43.2 174 83.3 10.4 655 103 0.183 137.6
Grain maize (thousand ha) 4 300 36 n/l 361 225 425 1 830 n/l 1063 n/l 20 164 172 n/l n/l n/l 5 766 576 n/a 47.3 0 1 193 n/a 0 n/a 152 3049 48 145 555No. hectares GE at 0.5 % contamination 21 500 180 1 805 1 130 2 130 9 170 5320 100 820 860 28 800 2 880 236 5 960 761 15
200240 725 2 780
Plants per hectare = 100,000No. GE plants (millions) 2 150 18 181 113 213 917 532 10.0 82.0 86.0 2 880 288 23.6 596 76.1 1 520 24.0 72.5 278
Silage/forage maize (thousand ha) 296 166 1.78 n/a n/a n/a n/a 13 n/a 11.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 104 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/aNo. hectares GE at 0.5 % contamination 1 480 832 8.91 65 55.3 521Plants per hectare = 100,000No. GE plants (millions) 148 83.2 0.891 6.50 5.53 52.1
Soyabean thousand ha (2000 data) 349 n/l n/l 1 n/a n/a 90 n/l 242 n/l n/l 15 n/l n/l n/l n/l 147 n/a n/a 1.88 0 22.2 n/a 0 n/a n/a 117 n/a 5.91 n/aNo. hectares GE at 0.7 % contamination 2 440 7 630 1690 105 1029 13.2 155 819 41.4Plants per hectare = 475,000No. GE plants (millions) 1 160 3 299 805 50 489 6.26 73.7 389 19.7
Sugarbeet (thousand ha) 1806 96 56 449 43 129 386 31 220 n/l 109 45 5 31 55 151 1 062 1.94 n/a 61.3 0 57.5 27.7 12.7 n/a 333 48.4 8.12 31.7 480No. hectares GE at 0.5 % contamination 9 030 480 280 2 250 215 645 1 930 155 1 100 545 225 25 155 275 755 5 310 9.70 306 287 139 63.5 1 670 242 40.6 158 2 400Plants per hectare = 75,000No. GE plants (millions) 677 36.0 21.0 168 16.1 48.4 145 11.6 82.5 40.9 16.9 1.88 11.6 20.6 56.6 398 0.73 23.0 21.6 10.4 4.76 125 18.2 3.04 11.9 180
Cotton (thousand ha)) 494 n/l n/l n/l 405 88.9 n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/l n/a n/a n/a 0 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 0 n/a n/a n/aNo. hectares GE at 0.5 % contamination 2 470 2 025 445Seeds per hectare = 176,000 (estimated)No. GE plants (millions) 435 356 78.2
Notes for Table 3n/a data not available, data sources for silage/forage maize are as for Table 1.
Discussion
The results demonstrate that the proposed thresholds lead to a large
quantity of GE plants in Europe – 7 000 million at the best case scenario
(oilseed rape and maize in the EU only) to 14 580 million in the worst
case scenario (soy, sugarbeet, cotton, maize and oilseed rape across and
enlarged EU). These GE plants will be unregulated, e.g. separation
distances and segregation will not apply. Therefore, these plants will be
able to freely cross with non-GE crops and also feral and wild relatives,
especially of beet and oilseed rape. The appearance of herbicide resistant
“weeds” could necessitate the widespread use more environmentally
damaging herbicides.
These numbers of unregulated GE plants will be allowed annually. Thus,
the numbers of unregulated GE plants will increase annually. The values
of 0.3%, 0.5% and 0.7% are not a reflection of how low it is possible to
keep GE contamination nor do they take into consideration the
environmental and agronomic impact of such contamination. It has been
acknowledged that, by choosing such high levels, the amount of
contamination in the final product would creep up over the long term -
especially in oilseed rape2. Therefore, it is vital to keep GE contamination
to a minimum and keep to that minimum.
GE-free seed production and supply can and is being achieved by major
seed suppliers at a threshold of 0.1% (the effective detection limit). In
over 3 000 seed samples analysed so far by EU governments less than 5%
show any detectable GE contamination. In other words over 95% of all
seed lots tested in the EU, including imported seeds, are already produced
under the zero tolerance threshold of 0.1% GE contamination5.
Conclusion: A threshold level of 0.1 % is achievable and vital to
protect the environment.
References
1 Draft COMMISSION DIRECTIVE ../…/Ecof … amending Council Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC and Decision 95/232/EEC as regards additional conditions and requirements concerning the presence of genetically modified seed in seed lots of non-genetically modified varieties and the details of the information required for labeling in the case of seeds of genetically modified varieties Brussels, 02.07.2002, P./secr/doc2001 /va/1542en02july2002 http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/Seed_Directive_3_July_2002.pdf2 European Commission Scientific Committee on Plants. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants concerning the adventitious presence of GM seeds in conventional seeds. SCP/GMO-SEED-CONT/002-FINAL 13 March 2001 http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scp/out93_gmo_en.pdf3 European Union, Directorate-General for Agriculture. Agriculture in the European Union: Statistical and Economic Information 2001. (Jan 2002) http://europa. eu. int/ omm/ agriculture/ agrista/ 2001/ table_ en/ index. Htm4 EUROSTAT: Statistics for crop acreage in Accession countries were purchased from Data Shop Newport, UK. Details from http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/5 Greenpeace (2002) Save Our Seeds! Agriculture and environment threatened by GE seed contamination law. October 2002. http://www.greenpeace.org/reports/
