Zero-tolerance policy is putting the European livestock industry at risk and restricting consumers' freedom of choice

Zero-tolerance policy is putting the European livestock industry at risk and restricting consumers' freedom of choice

On 27 and 28 August, the German Agricultural Society (DLG) met in Kassel with representatives from the animal feed, agricultural, dairy and meat industries, as well as consumer representatives, government officials and scientists, to discuss the impact of the EU approval procedure for GMO constructs on the supply of feed protein and the prospects for the German and European livestock production industry.

The zero-tolerance policy currently being applied within the EU towards genetically modified soya varieties which do not have EU approval is also beginning to hinder the import of approved soya feeds. Consequently, European livestock production is being deprived of an indispensable part of its feed resources. It is feared that this will result in high cost increases, loss of competitiveness, the migration of large parts of the pig and poultry production and, ultimately, more meat being imported from outside the EU.

The results and assessments are included in a memorandum of the DLG

(see also www.dlg.org/de/landwirtschaft/futtermittelnet/gvomemorandum.html)