POLICY AND ACTIVITY ON GMOs:

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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
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GMO POLICY - BACKGROUND

• The Co-operative Groups 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

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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

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GMO POLICY

• In 1999 the Co-operative Group, Britains leading
  farmer, confirmed it would not be taking part in
  the Governments 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

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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

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GMO POLICY - TIMELINE

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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SUMMARY OF MAIN PRINCIPLES

• When Members are asked they are opposed to GM
  products
• Need to demonstrate that there are no adverse
  environmental effects

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FINALLY..

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