October 20, 2009 - The German Farmers Association (DBV) has launched an electronic postcard campaign directed to German Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner asking for her support in Brussels to modify the EU zero-tolerance rules regarding traces of EU unapproved biotech events.

In the past, DBV took an ambivalent position regarding biotechnology in crop production. DBV argues that it cannot recommend to its members to cultivate biotech seeds because its customers do not want it. With regard to EU approvals of biotech events solely for import and processing, DBV sees a different situation. The slow EU approval process puts livestock producers at risk and DBV has to support the interests of this group.

The appeal text says:

Dear Minister Aigner, I am a livestock producer and therefore, I am existentially depending on protein feeds such as soybean meal. The supply of protein feeds is extremely at risk if the zero-tolerance approach is not immediately given up with regard to unavoidable and accidental traces of biotech feeds not yet approved by the EU but already traded worldwide. A practical solution has to be found. This includes an acceleration of the EU approval process.

I strongly ask you, dear Minister, to support my appeal at the EU Minister Council. It is in your hands whether I can survive successfully in the market or whether I will have to give up because of exploding prices for protein feeds and resulting pork imports from Brazil.

For more information, see:

"German Farmers Launch E-Postcard Activity pro Biotech"
United States Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service
Global Agriculture Information Network - GAIN Report