EU fear of GM food from US hampers historic trade deal.
An ‘enormous gulf’ has been exposed between the EU and the US through Europe’s reluctance to buy hormone meat or GM food from the US. Industry and labor groups voiced concern to EU and US negotiators that the globe’s biggest trade pact was under threat.
“There is an enormous gulf between the EU and US positions,” said Michael Dolan, a lobbyist for the US Teamsters Union at the fourth round of trade talks between the EU and US in Brussels on Wednesday.
The talks marked an unusual occasion, being the first time that lobbyists were received, and additionally marking the first time that the forum allowed reporters inside.
Those involved in negotiating a pact have expressed a desire to finalize a deal before the end of the year. Eight months of talks have already passed. However, tensions which have underscored trade talks worldwide have been a drawback, and continued low public support for the deal has exacerbated tensions over food.
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However, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht frequently reasserts that there will be no changes to the EU regulation of GM food even if an agreement is reached with the US.
The EU is also closed to US beef from cattle raised with growth hormones.
http://rt.com/news/europe-us-gm-trade-394/
= new reply since forum marked as read
According to the report, the principle allows too much leeway for potentially dangerous products to find their way onto the consumer market. In practice a GMO crop is compared to any existing variety of the same species, meaning that a product made up of a collection of species is not treated differently. Moreover, the tests that GMO products undergo to show they are ‘substantially equivalent’ to their counterparts are not nearly detailed enough, writes the study.
“Traits used for comparisons are also based solely on gross and insensitive chemical compositional tests such as levels of carbohydrate, protein and sugars. This process cannot even begin to tackle safety issues.”
The study cites research carried out by Professor El-Sayed Shaltout at Alexandria University last year that found that Monsanto’s 810 Corn (Ajeeb-YG®) was radically different to its non-GM counterpart. Research revealed that Monsanto’s corn had “abnormal levels” of amino acids and fatty acids, as well as increased total protein, crude fat and decreased starch content.
http://rt.com/news/gmo-substantial-equivalence-failed-015/
not to be able to trust the food we eat. To have to spend time researching, inspecting, and still feeling uncertain about everything you put in a shopping cart. 
Monsanto does not care about consumers or the environment.
Keep rejecting GMO crap, Europe!
