BioWorld International Correspondent

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Farmers Biotech Network has accused the European Union of merely "flirting" with biotechnology. In a letter delivered to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, the network's chairman, David Hill, warned that Europe's political indecision risked freezing out biotech.

The letter came the day after new figures showed a 12 percent increase in the planting of biotech crops around the world in 2007 - but not in Europe. Although there are now 18 GM crops awaiting authorization for cultivation in Europe, and 49 for import and use in food and feed, there is still only one biotech crop authorized for cultivation.

"Not one single new biotech crop has been allowed to reach the market for cultivation since 1998," the letter pointed out. The rest of the world "is now rapidly adopting this technology that was once an impressive example of European research leadership," Hill said.

The farmers' network blames "political impositions without any scientific basis." Expressing "frustration," their letter called for regulators to give European farmers the same access to high-tech crops instead of handicapping them "in an increasingly global farming sector." The network said that it wanted a solution to the deadlock. "Whether we decide to grow biotech crops or not should be our choice," the network insisted.

Animal Experimentation Under Review

A draft of new rules governing animal experimentation are scheduled to emerge in early April, European Union Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas confirmed in the European Parliament in Brussels. The European pharmaceutical sector has been waiting in trepidation for the long-promised review of the 20-year-old legislation, fearing a clampdown that could prejudice research - particularly with transgenic animals. Anti-vivisection and animal rights campaigners hostile to all experimentation with animals have been demonstrating growing strength in Europe over recent years.

The commissioner's announcement suggested that the proposals in their current early form - they are still under internal discussion by EU officials prior to release for consultation - may not be as draconian as anticipated. His opening remarks placed concern for animals in the context of concern for humans. "It is our duty and responsibility to guarantee the health and well-being of all Europeans while respecting the welfare of all animals," he said.

Dimas spoke of "the ultimate goal" as being to replace animal testing with alternative methods, but he conceded that "scientific development has not yet reached that stage." Most alternative methods currently under validation are for partial replacement, reduction or refinement, he acknowledged. Industry sources have welcomed the explicit endorsement in his remarks of the continuing need to use animals: "The aim of this review is to provide additional tools for the development and validation of alternative methods to animal testing, and to improve the welfare of those animals still needed to be used in experiments." Similarly, there is industry relief that he recognized: "Given the current state of scientific knowledge, the use of a limited number of nonhuman primates remains unavoidable for a number of vital research programs on severe global diseases."

Meanwhile, the EU continues to fund alternative methods research projects - with €270 million (US$400 million) since the 1980s.