Scientists Express Concern on Europe’s Tight GM Regulations

Europe is “damaging countries in the developing world by imposing its standards to regulate genetic modified (GM) crops. The current regulatory policy is damaging the prospects of public sector biotech to the point where most of its contributions are stalled.” This concern was forwarded by prominent scientists from South Africa, China and Brazil during a forum organized by the European Action of Global Life Sciences in Ghent, Belgium.

Examples of the concerns towards the European over-regulation include whether “this may prevent, or severely delay, the approval of plants that are desperately needed by poor Africans”, and also “China’s failure to approve the commercial release of GM rice due to concerns over future exports.”

For more on the forum, contact Em. Prof. Marc Van Montagu at mamon@psb.Ugent.be.