Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/20/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** GR5021

GR5021

**Greece**

**Biotechnology**

**Annual**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Ann Murphy

U.S. Embassy Rome

**Prepared by:**

Stamatis Sekliziotis

**Report Highlights:**

This report supplements information in the EU Biotechnology Annual
E35091. Greek public opinion is galvanized against agricultural biotech
and political figures across party lines perceive that they have nothing
to gain by supporting biotechnology. Greece maintains a ban prohibiting
the cultivation of an EU-approved biotech rapeseed.

To date there is no coexistence legislation in Greece.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Rome \[IT1\]

\[GR\]

Table of Contents

[**SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3**](#section-i-executive-summary)

[SECTION II: BIOTECHNOLOGY TRADE AND PRODUCTION
3](#section-ii-biotechnology-trade-and-production)

[Conventional Seeds for Planting and Adventitious Presence (AP)
4](#conventional-seeds-for-planting-and-adventitious-presence-ap)

[Transshipments 4](#transshipments)

[SECTION III: BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY 4](#section-iii-biotechnology-policy)

[Coexistence Policy & Regulations in Greece
6](#coexistence-policy-regulations-in-greece)

[NGOs and Philosophical Opposition
6](#ngos-and-philosophical-opposition)

[SECTION IV. MARKETING ISSUES 7](#section-iv.-marketing-issues)

# SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Greece as a Member State of the EU has never voted to approve any
biotech event. The political risk of such as vote is negative, and cuts
across all party lines. Since 1998 Greece has maintained a marketing ban
to prohibit rapeseed (canola) despite the Commission's approval of this
product based on positive risk assessments. The rapeseed variety, Bayer
Topas 19/2 was judged by the Greek authorities to pose a risk based on
the prevalence of rapeseed's wild mustard relatives found in Greece.

At the time of this writing coexistence legislation has not been
concluded in Greece. Details are given in Section III, Policy.

### 

The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for checking that biotech
labeling on feed and seed imports is in conformance with EU norms. The
Hellenic Food Control Agency, EFET, controls food biotech labeling.
Details are given in Section III, Policy.

# SECTION II: BIOTECHNOLOGY TRADE AND PRODUCTION

#  

Greece does not produce any biotech crops either experimentally or
commercially. Agricultural Universities and the National Foundation
carry out agricultural Research in Greece. The Agricultural Research
Foundation (NAGREF) operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of
Agricultural Development and Food. NAGREF has recently developed a
Biotechnology Research Section, operating on very limited staff and
funds. The School of Agriculture at the Aristotelian University of
Thessaloniki, Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and the University of
Crete, Laboratory of Molecular Biology are considered to be the most
progressive entities in the country on biotechnology, with pro - GM
scientists who also participate in National Biotech Committees. To date,
no biotech products have been developed or field-tested in Greece.

The most notable product of agricultural biotechnology that Greece
imports is soybeans and soybean meal. Imported quantities of GM and
non-GM soybeans are commingled. US origin GM and non -- GM soybeans and
soybean meal (all types) from the US in 2003 and 2004 did not exceed
160,000 tons. In the 1990s, the US was the sole supplier to the Greek
crushing and animal feeds industry, with total annual imports of nearly
350,000 Tons. In CYs 2003 and 2004, total soybean (and meal) imports
into Greece reached 390,000 tons yearly, with only 45 percent
originating in the US, followed by Brazil and Argentina.

Food manufacturers know well that the Greek public is averse to biotech
content in foods. This issue of the "use of GMO products" versus "not
using GMO products" extends to feed compounders. Fish meal producers,
poultry integrators, dairy complexes and swine producers, in the
majority, are requesting from soybean crushers and soybean importers a
certificate to indicate no biotech material in their feed formulations
whether the product is corn or soy. In this way they feel thay have
something positive to deliver to consumers, and avoid NGO protests or
NGO action singling out their product. The position of the GOG Ministry
of Agriculture is that Greece under the EU legislation can import
approved GM soybeans and meal, and feed millers and others may choose to
buy either GM or non-GM. While the trade accepts that non-GM feed
ingredients are more expensive, they also know that price is a key
factor of concern to the buyer.

### Conventional Seeds for Planting and Adventitious Presence (AP)

#  

Field crop seeds, especially cotton and corn, are imported mainly from
the U.S.;U.S. market share is approximately 80%. Since 2002 this share
has declined compared to previous levels. For cottonseed in particular,
this is due to the GOG Ministerial Decision which requires a \"non
presence\" of biotech material (AP) in imported seed. Despite this
threat, no shipments of U.S. cottonseed in 2005 have been turned back
due to the presence of GM material, although sampling and testing were
done. Samples of both imported and domestically produced cottonseed were
taken for routine testing for transgenic material content. Testing took
place on a random basis and no GM "contaminated" seed lots were found.
Periodically, Greenpeace has proceed with their own sampling and testing
of seeds obtained in the farming regions, with the scope to publish
their findings in the local press, naming the companies supplying cotton
and corn and giving press conferences on the issue, and even presenting
questionable findings. Under these circumstances, sampling and GM
content testing methods are highly questionable and companies do not
wish to respond or become vulnerable to negative press coverage. In most
cases the trade ignores "such noises" but the pressure is noticeable.

Future legislation in the EU, which may reduce tolerance levels in
imported seed lots, may negatively affect trade. Presently seeds are
imported according to a Ministerial Decision in effect since 2001 (No.
332657/16 Feb. 2001) providing a 0.5 tolerance for corn seed imports and
requiring non-presence of transgenic material in cottonseed for
planting. With proper certification from the US companies and a
scientifically justifiable interpretation of the Decision by the Greek
authorities, imports of US seed for planting continue, although with
some difficulties from year to year. The sampling size and test methods
decided by the authorities determine whether AP is acceptable or not.
Lack of predictable sampling size and test methods hamper this market.

### Transshipments 

Greece is not a food aid recipient but is the crossroad of food trade
and food aid. Various agricultural products and commodities are
transhipped to the Balkan countries and new Balkan states, and the
harbour of Thessaloniki is actively engaged in this activity.
Thessaloniki is located only a few miles away from Yugoslavia, Albania
and Bulgaria. Grain shipments (wheat and corn food aid) transit through
Thessaloniki to these countries. Less than five years ago, a U.S. Corn
shipment (food aid) to Kosovo, became Greenpeace's target in the harbour
for carrying biotech corn. The protest lasted only for a few hours and
cargo was transited smoothly.

Greece does not produce any biotechnology crops or export any such
products to the United States.

# SECTION III: BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY

In the late 1990s, Greece joined six member states to ban imports of
corn and rapeseed approved by the European Union. Although these actions
were a violation of European Law, the EU Commission refused to challenge
the bans. In 1998, member states including Greece formed a block against
EU regulatory approval for new agricultural biotech products. This
moratorium clearly breached WTO rules, which specifically required that
measures regulating imports be based on "sufficient evidence" and that
countries operate regulatory approval procedures without "undue delay".
In the ensuing 7 years since the moratorium was imposed, Greek
ministries (for both parties in Government since 1997) have chosen to
listen most attentively to the skeptics, who not only imposed a
moratorium on the approval process, but also have impeded research and
prohibited science from possibilities to improve Greek agriculture and
the rural quality of life that could reap benefits from agricultural
biotechnology. Greenpeace and anti -- GM groups in Greece are
influential, have managed to gain access in most political parties, have
access to the current administration and also national media. They
undermine agricultural biotechnology, the trade of biotech foods in
Greece, and are active in maintaining bans on imports of modified crops,
even those approved by the EU (i.e. soybeans and soybean meal). There is
a widespread negative sentiment among the Greek population regarding
biotech crops and food, in large part due to the one-sided "influenced"
reporting in the press and politicians vocal opponents of biotechnology.

Before the moratorium effectively started, each member state had to vote
on any bioengineered product approval, either for commercialization or
planting within the EU. In Greece, a National Biotechnology Committee
reviews the dossiers case by case. Members of the Committee are eminent
academics from the field of Genetic Engineering and representatives from
seven (7) Ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Health,
Environment, Development, National Economy (Finance), Foreign Affairs &
Culture. The GOG's Ministry of Environment is the reporter Ministry for
Agricultural Biotechnology matters. The National Biotech Committee,
after reviewing dossiers, reports to the Ministry of Environment. This
report is a technical and/or scientific statement, which the GOG
Ministry of Environment has to consider before any voting decision is to
be taken in Brussels. In the past, very often, a political decision was
taken, not necessarily based on scientific reports submitted by the
Committee. Both traditionally and recently (NK 603, GM rape Topas 19/2
and MON863 maize cases), Greece is reluctant to take any positive
decisions even in cases where approval was indicated according to the
National Biotech Committee and the European Food Safety Authority's
(EFSA) statements that there was no basis for scientific objections.
Greece upholds a restriction on the GM rape Topas 19/2 under the Article
16 of EU Directive 90/220/EEC (known as the safeguard clause). Greece
has voted negatively in all but one case, the Monsanto Roundup Ready
Soya. In that instance Greece decided to abstain.

Since 2000, a parallel National Bioethics Committee is also operational
in Greece with member representatives from the Greek Orthodox Church,
universities, NGOs and consumer organizations. This committee operates
independently from the Scientific Committee on Biotech and submits its
reports to the Ministry of Environment. Their views are not always based
on scientific evidence, but mostly on philosophical approaches to
biotechnology developments, highly preoccupied but also influenced by
NGO views. The latter usually argue that risk assessment research has
been unsatisfactory.

The Hellenic Food Control Agency (EFET) is the organization charged to
enforce biotech food controls. EFET is recently established and operates
under the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade. EFET has 15
offices in the country with limited staff capacity and resources. EFET
is the official agency responsible for enforcing Traceability and
Labeling Regulations, which came in to effect EU-wide in April 2004.

Ministry of Agriculture has the responsibility of controlling imports of
Ag. Products and food at customs, while the National Chemical Laboratory
(under the Ministry of Finance) conducts all laboratory testing, case by
case.

For edible products, controls are taken by EFET, in cooperation with the
Ministry of public order (Market Police Force), while Agricultural
inputs (seed, animal feed, other bulk commodities) are under the
responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture. Dairy and livestock
products are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture
(Veterinary Division).

Greece does not allow field-testing of biotechnology crops. In the
1990s, a Greek tomato paste industry attempted a small scale
experimental cultivation of GM Industrial Tomatoes in Central Greece.
The project was not successful. Activists located the field and plants
were uprooted in their early growth.

### Coexistence Policy & Regulations in Greece

According to the Coexistence Regulations of the European Union as of
December 16, 2004, Greece was to have prepared a draft law by spring
2005 and was to have presented it to the Parliament. Guidelines for the
draft called for identification of good technical practices (GTP) and
liability regulations. At the time of this writing the GOG Ministry of
Agriculture has not presented the draft to Parliament. According to our
sources, the GOG faces both technical difficulties and opposition to
coexistence regulation.

Local initiatives to declare GM free zones in Greece began just as the
European Union seemed to be on the verge of loosening its de facto
moratorium on the genetically modified crops.

### NGOs and Philosophical Opposition

In 2000 Greenpeace initiated a discussion on GM-Free Zones with the
newly formed National Bioethics Commission. DIO (Organic Certification
Body) and Greenpeace asked the Government to support the idea to declare
Greece a GM-free zone. Later in 2003 a local prefectural council vote on
the Ionian island of Zakynthos - a producer of high-quality crops -
asked the government to declare all of Greece a GM-free zone. Shortly
thereafter, anti-GM sentiment spread to the Central Greek Department of
Thessaly, a region whose fertile plains have earned it the nickname of
breadbasket of Greece. In Thessaly cereals, cotton, industrial tomatoes,
sugarbeats, and forage plants are grown. Note: this is in contrast to
fruit tree crops, olive oil, tobacco, and grape production. End Note. In
a broad and coordinated effort, more than fifty agricultural,
environmental and civic groups have created the Panthessalian Network
against GM crops, with the purpose of organizing information campaigns
for both citizens and farmers and having Thessaly declared a GM-free
zone. They have also called on the rest of Greece to participate in
creating a truly Pan Hellenic network against GM crops. Even before the
creation of the Network, the prefectural council of Thessaly\'s Trikala
prefecture had voted its desire to become a GM-free zone.

The prefecture of Rhodope has joined the European Network of GMO-free
regions.

Simultaneously, Greenpeace Greece proposed to all the Local Authorities
in Greece to declare their prefectures and municipalities GM-Free zones.
The Heraklion local authority in Crete was the first that started a
discussion, and soon the municipal council voted to declare the area
GM-free. The council hopes to open a dialogue with the Crete's other
local authorities with the aim of extending the ban to the entire
island.

In October 2004 the last of the 54 prefectures voted to declare
themselves GM-Free. Region by region, the whole of Greece has declared
itself GM-free.

Based on the above facts and developments, the GOG will delay presenting
a coexistence regulation for an undefined but surely long period of
time. The GOG is currently facing unpopularity over CAP Reform and they
are unwilling to make the unpopular move for coexistence. CAP reform is
due to be implemented in 2006 with no less technical and administrative
difficulties. Local authority elections will come up in October 2006 in
Greece and any probable political costs will have to be considered.

The Traceability and Labeling Regulation were put in force in April
2004. Greece started implementing the EU regulations on January 1, 2005.
EFET is the agency responsible for enforcement and market controls in
cooperation with the National Chemical Laboratory (track the movement of
GM products through the production and distribution chains). Due to lack
of staff and funding, in spite of the Commission's development of
technical guidance on sampling and testing methods prior to the
application of the regulation, EFET has not developed proper mechanisms
to fulfill requirements. Sampling and testing takes place on a random
basis and in reaction to Consumer Organization reports and individual
complaints. Food and feed products derived from GM and clearly labeled
and placed in the domestic food market chain are limited after the
implementation of the legislation.

Greece signed the Biosafety Protocol on May 24, 2000, ratified it on May
21, 2004 and entered into force on August 19, 2004.

# SECTION IV. MARKETING ISSUES

Greek consumers are highly influenced by the media and NGO activism that
are categorically opposed to both cultivation and consumption of GM (see
policy section). Periodic "research" shows that 93% of Greeks do not
want GM cultivation on their land nor GM products on their plate. Many
demonstrations concerning the future of agriculture and food production
have already taken place in major cities, especially after the EU's
latest decisions. It has to be noted however, that this research is
conducted mostly by NGOs without properly constructed questionnaires.
Their results are not surprising given that they address a misinformed
public.

Most studies and/or published work on the topic of biotechnology in
Greece are of an anti -- GM nature, highly biased against agricultural
biotechnology and scantily based on science.