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I. SIDDIQUI, USDA Special Assistant to the Secretary of Trade/Office of the Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, Room 200A, Whitten Bldg., 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250

The use of modern biotechnology in agriculture has the potential for improving food production, nutrition and the environment. However in recent years, concerns for the potential environmental and human health effects of genetically modified (GM) crops have been raised. The opposition to the use of GM products has been most intense in the European countries. Since the U.S. is the leader in biotechnology, market access to our GM products in the European countries has either been denied or curtailed. Annual losses due to loss of markets in the European countries are estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars.

The U.S. response to this anti-biotech paranoia in the European countries has been to urge a science-based approach to biotechnology and to engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions to address the concerns about potential environment and human health effects of GM crops. Currently, scientific and trade related reviews and discussions are underway in the Codex Alimentarius, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). A number of countries have adopted regulations to require labeling of agricultural products made from GM crops. To date, the U.S. position has been that labeling of GM products is not scientifically warranted since GM food products are substantially equivalent to products derived through conventional breeding. While there is no scientific basis to require mandatory labeling of GM products, informational labeling might be needed to provide consumers a choice to make an informed decision as to what they consume.

In response to the concerns about potential adverse environmental effects of GM crops, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture have intensified their regulatory efforts to assure that GM crops are thoroughly reviewed prior to their release for commercial production. All of these initiatives are designed to enhance consumer confidence in the safety of GM products.