National Anti-GE Day in France

To mark a National Anti-GE Day Greenpeace France organised events in 12 regions of the country and invited regional presidents to come and debate the GE question over the week end. Certain areas in France and other EU countries have already declared themselves GE free and it is hoped that after this weekend's events more areas in France will remain uncontaminated.

The 8 May was organised to allow people to reaffirm their rejection of Genetically Modified Organisms(GMO), visit information stands and participate in public debates. Local groups also organised local craft fairs, concerts and take part in instructive activities.

Due to the French government's double standards regarding the introduction of GE, on the one hand talking about prudence then on the other not taking any action at the European Commission level, it is essential for local authorities to mobilise and take measures to preserve high quality French agriculture.

The conditions for lifting the current moratorium on growing GE crops in Europe are far from being met. And despite the introduction of the European-wide labelling and traceability regulations on 18 April many problems remain in particular concerning the inadequate scientific evaluations used to authorise GMOs and the absence of any rules guaranteeing the protection of seeds from genetic contamination, the abusive use of patents on the seeds and gaps in the new labelling regulations which mean that products from animals fed on GE feed are not labelled.

Find out More

- Find out what happened in Luxembourgat the commission meeting

- Read our story: Greenpeace urges Ministers to reject GM maize Bt-11

- Read our brief on the EFSA: Failing Consumers and the Environment

- For more information of GE free zones in the EU visit Friends of the Earth

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