Argentina. Estado del tema OGM (9 de enero), según Conserjería Argentina (en ingés) 9 de enero

domingo 29 de enero de 2012
Gaston Funes 

Consejería Agrícola Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Embajada Argentina ante la Unión Europea

Prensa Agricola especializada ya esta hacienda publico el enfoque que estaría buscando la Comision en sentido de modificar la Directiva UE de miel:

 En la UE se está considerando la clasificación el polen como constituyente y no como ingrediente para resolver rápidamente las complicaciones en la comercialización derivadas de la resolución sobre OGM en miel.

Commission eyes solution to GM dilemma for honey: The EU’s executive is considering tweaking current

legislation to classify pollen as a natural constituent in honey rather than an ingredient to overcome a

problem thrown up by a European Court of Justice ruling on honey containing pollen from Genetically

Modified (GM) maize.

La reglamentación del 6 de setiembre que establece que las mieles conteniendo trazas de polen proveniente de cultivos transgénicos no pueden ser comercializados en la UE sin autorización previa, ha provocados grandes preocupaciones en los países exportadores a la UE.

The ruling on Sept 6, stating that honey containing traces of pollen from GM crops

cannot be marketed in the EU without prior authorisation, has raised major concerns for import-dependent

EU countries. The EU relies on sources from 3rd countries where GM crops are prevalent such as Argentina

as well as from key producers such as Spain & Romania where GM MON810 maize is cultivated [see AF69-

11]. Monsanto’s GM maize MON810 was given the green light for a list of food purposes inc. maize flour,

gluten & glucose but never for pollen as a foodstuff. DG SANCO services are eyeing changes to the EU’s

directive on honey that would clarify pollen’s status as a constituent & not an ingredient in honey, thus

avoiding lengthy & complicated authorisation procedures. By classifying pollen as a constituent, testing on

the whole product would have to prove that the level of GM material exceeds the EU’s 0.9% tolerance

threshold before a GMO label would be required. But imported honey containing GM material non-authorised

in the EU would have to be banned. Technical proposals of this nature would seek to reassure operators

working in the honey sector & ensure a workable solution without disruption to current rules, according to DG

SANCO officials. Such a proposal could be drawn up “rapidly”, they said. 

  

Gastón María FUNES
Consejero Agrícola
Embajada de Argentina ante la UE