6-Regulation: Austrian concept of GMO-free ecologically sensitive areas

[GENETNL <genetnl@xs4all.be>]

----------------------------- GENET-news -----------------------------

TITLE:  Concepts of GMO-free  ecologically sensitive areas
SOURCE: Federal Institute for Less-Favoured and Mountainous Areas, 
        Austria
        http://www.bergbauern.com (Gentechnik)
DATE:   March 2000

-------------------- archive: http://www.gene.ch/ --------------------


New Study about "Concepts of GMO-free ecologically sensitive areas" 
has recently been published in the Internet 

In 1999 the Federal Institute for Less-Favoured and Mountainous Areas 
(Vienna) conducted a study on "Concepts of GMO-free ecologically 
sensitive areas" supported by the  Austrian Federal Ministry of 
Women's Affairs and Consumer Protection. An important part of the 
study was a survey on opinions of experts about GMO-free areas. This 
part of the study together with articles about the conceptual 
framework has recently been made public through the Internet-homepage 
of the Institute and can freely be downloaded (German language).

Ecologically or Óenvironmentally sensitive areasÓ are an important 
subject within the European Parliament's proposals amending Directive 
90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of 
genetically modified organisms. Especially within Part C (placing on 
the market) the European Parliament made two amendments stating "the 
competent authority, when granting consent, can impose additional 
conditions for the protection of environmentally sensitive areas".

The study deals with the legal framework of the EU and with 
contradictions to the concepts of uncertainty in risk assessment and 
the requirements of the precautionary principle. "Environmental 
sensitivity" in relation to areas is also defined through the Council 
Directive 97/11/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain public 
and private projects on the environment. It is stated that an 
environmental impact assessment in accordance with Article 130r (2) 
of the Treaty should be based on the precautionary principle. Other 
main starting-points in defining ecologically sensitive areas are the 
Natura 2000 directives (Habitats and Birds Directive), the Convention 
on Biodiversity, the recommendations of the Agenda 21 (especially 
chapter 13: Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain 
development) or multilateral conventions like the Alpine Convention 
(Convention on the Protection of the Alps).

Concepts of GMO-free ecologically sensitive areas have to be seen in 
the context of preserving biodiversity. Special areas of nature 
protection like the Natura 2000 network and adjoining areas depend 
upon special agricultural management systems which are in many 
aspects in contradiction to GMO farming. 

GMO-free areas have also a strong relation to Organic Farming which 
is the leading alternative agricultural system of sustainable 
farming. According to EU-Regulation 2092/91 (1804/1999) genetically 
modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived therefrom are not 
compatible with the organic production method. In further developing 
organic systems will be a need for special areas of protection 
- to avoid GMO-contamination of organic seed breeding and multiplying,
- to support the efforts in protecting and preserving biodiversity 
  within organic agricultural systems,
- to create alternative technological systems or paths to compensate 
  possible failures of conventional farming and
- to have some mechanism of counterbalancing unexpected risks. 

Further important arguments for GMO-free areas are the requirements 
according to the Global Plan of Action within FAO system for 
Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources 
(PGR). Within this system the In situ conservation and On farm 
management of Plant Genetic Resources are given priority treatment. 

To evaluate different concepts of "GMO-free ecologically sensitive 
areas" an expert survey was conducted in Austria. The main target 
groups of the survey had been politicians, scientists, administrative 
personnel and NGOs in agriculture, nature and environmental 
protection as well as Organic Farming associations. A questionnaire 
was distributed among 268 experts, 152 responded. The majority of the 
experts (67%) had a critical view on the use of genetic engineering 
in agriculture.

The main results:

- The relation between areas of nature protection and the application 
  of genetic engineering in agriculture needs to be clarified. 75% of 
  the responding experts think that the use of GMOs causes a 
  significant disturbance in areas of protection of nature. They call 
  for not releasing GMO to areas of protection of nature and 
  adjoining areas.

- The concept to define "large GMO-free ecologically sensitive areas 
  (like the area of a Federal Province of Austria)" was supported by 
  the majority of the experts (73%). They are relatively convinced 
  that this concept could be argued within EU regulations. Some parts
  of the agricultural administration staff and some groups of
  scientist are strongly opposing.

- The idea to define the whole mountainous and alpine region of 
  Austria as a "GMO-free Biosphere Reserve" with the given arguments 
  as follows
  * to establish a model region for an alternative path of 
    technological development in agriculture
  * to implement sustainable agricultural development in combination 
    with nature conservation
  * to protect the mountain and water resources by extensive land use
  * and to create an area for counterbalancing and regeneration in 
    case of unforseeable negative developments caused by genetic 
    engineering was rated by 78% of the experts as good or very good
    idea.

The concept of "GMO-free Alps as Biosphere Reserve" even finds a 
greater 
acceptance than the abstract form of "large GMO-free ecologically 
sensitive areas". (Only experts in the field of biotechnology and 
persons very much in favour of biotechnology disagree.) However the 
responses for implementation of this concept were not very clear 
since in average the experts ticked the middle of the rating scale 
with 6 points.
 
- There are great deficiencies in  relation to the needs of Organic 
  farming. 89% of the responding persons call for GMO-free areas of 
  breeding and multiplying organic seeds.
 
- As main strategies to assist Organic Farming to cope with the 
  problems of genetic engineering the experts recommend to support 
  GMO-free production through the agricultural environmental
  programs (60%) and through the organisation of the regional food
  processing and marketing (60%), followed by defining GMO-free
  areas for seed breeding and multiplying (57%) and demarcation of
  "large GMO-free ecologically sensitive areas" (57%). In response
  to the question, who should pay for the costs of analyses, 42% of
  the experts in average tend to polluter pays principle and claim
  compensation from seed industry. Only experts in the field of
  Organic Farming favour the more realistic scenario of refunding
  through public funds (66 %) (all percentages multiple responses).
 
- The great majority of experts have the opinion that the In situ 
  conservation and On farm management of Plant Genetic Resources 
  should be managed GMO-free.

During the design of the study and as a result of some personal 
expert interviews it became obvious that the discussion on deliberate 
release and placing on the market of GMOs is overlayed by a basic 
conflict on property rights: whether people who are against 
deliberate releases and GM-foods are entitled to the genetic 
integrity of their "natural" environment or whether scientists and 
industry who are in favour of genetic engineering have the right to 
pose an environmental burden with GMOs Ð independent of obvious 
evidences of environmental damage.

Contact:
Josef Hoppichler
Federal Institute for Less-Favoured and Mountainous Areas
Möllwaldplatz 5
A-1040 Vienna
Austria

Tel.: +43 - 1 - 504 88 69 Ð 0
Fax:  +43 - 1 - 504 88 69 - 39
e-mail: josef.hoppichler@babf.bmlf.gv.at
http://www.babf.bmlf.gv.at 





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