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POLICY AND ACTIVITY ON GMOs:THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP (UK)

THE EUROCOOP ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Duncan Bowdler, Trade Liaison Manager, the Co-operative Group and Chair, Eurocoop Environment Group

• The Co-operative Group’s policy on GMOs is guided by the precautionary principle

• Our aim is to eliminate any ingredients or additives that derive from GM crops

• We see no evidence that GMOs offer any significant benefits to our members / consumers

GMO POLICY - BACKGROUND

GMO POLICY

• In 1998 we instructed our suppliers to remove GM ingredients or reformulate their products

• Co-op brand food products do not contain any ingredients or additives derived from GMOs

• Animals on Co-op farms are reared on diets free from GM feed

• We insist on traceability from our suppliers to ensure that our customers retain the right to choose

GMO POLICY

• In 1999 the Co-operative Group, Britain’s leading farmer, confirmed it would not be taking part in the Government’s GM crop trials

• We do not believe that commercial trials should take place until it has been sufficiently demonstrated that there are no adverse environmental effects

• Our discussions with various parties led us to conclude that the design of the trials would do little to allay current environmental and consumer concerns

GMO POLICY

• In 2003 we conducted a national survey which revealed over 50% of our members and consumers were against GM food

• Currently consulting our Members again on this issue

• We use our consumer jury to debate the use of GMOs in foods and medicine

• The Co-op Bank does not invest in any businesses involved in the development of GMOs

• 1994 – the Co-op took the lead by labelling cheese which contains rennet produced by genetic modification

• 1999 – Co-op Brand suppliers told not to use genetically modified ingredients

• 2000 - required chickens, turkeys and ducks bred for meat to be fed on a non-GM diet

• 2001 – required feed for laying hens to be non-GM• 2001 – Co-op ensures that all fresh Pork comes from Pigs fed

on non-GM soya• 2003 – Members confirmed the policy of banning GM

ingredients in food and not participating in GM crop trials

GMO POLICY - TIMELINE

GM POLICY – EUROCOOP

• Both Food and Environment Groups have been active in campaigning against GMOs over the past 10 years

• Lobbying intense during 2002 – 2004• Helped to build coalition with IFOAM, Greenpeace,

Friends of the Earth and EEB against GMOs

GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

• Consumers have a Right to Know and a Right to Choose

• All GM material to be subject to a rigorous approval process

• Campaigned for an EU Labelling Scheme based on traceability and segregation

GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

• Threshold for adventitious contamination should be set at a very low level

• Some contamination often technically unavoidable• No tolerance for unauthorised GM material

GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

• GM contamination of seeds is a crucial issue• Threshold level of contamination of seeds should lower

than for food• Eurocoop has campaigned for a 0.1% threshold for

seeds

GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

• Strongly opposed to GMOs in organic products• Recommends a 0.1% threshold for adventitious

presence in organic production• Opposed to the 0.9% threshold adopted by the EU in

Spring 2007

SUMMARY OF MAIN PRINCIPLES

• Precautionary principle should apply• Need segregated supplies• Traceability to ensure consumers’ Right to Choose• NO GM ingredients in own brand products• Policies to eliminate GM Crops from the diets of animals

reared for Co-op Brand products

SUMMARY OF MAIN PRINCIPLES

• When Members are asked they are opposed to GM products

• Need to demonstrate that there are no adverse environmental effects

FINALLY…..

•THANK YOU!

• Duncan Bowdler, Trade Liaison Manager, the Co-operative Group