Swings and roundabouts: French public policy on agricultural GMOs since 1996

TY - JOUR

T1 - Swings and roundabouts: French public policy on agricultural GMOs since 1996

AU - Marris, Claire

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - Until 1996 French public policy on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and food was broadly supportive, and there was essentially no public debate in France on this topic. But in the winter of 1996-1997, seemingly out of nowhere, a controversy emerged in the media and the wider public sphere. This was sparked off by the arrival of the first imports of transgenic soya and maize from the USA, and further inflamed by a series of contradictory governmental decisions taken with respect to the commercialisation of a specific transgenic maize, the pest-resistant Bt176. In response, government policy began to change in order to introduce a more precautionary approach to environmental and health risks and more transparent and participative decision-making procedures. But the controversy did not abate and by the end of 1998 public policy on GMOs was in disarray. In June 1999, demonstrating a complete reversal of its 1996 position, the French government called for (and in effect obtained) a moratorium at the level of the European Union (EU) on any further authorisations for the commercialisation of GMOs. Thus, whereas France was, in June 1996, one of the EU Member States with the most supportive policy toward the introduction of GM crops and food onto the market, by June 1999 the situation was entirely reversed and France was one of the most obstructive EU Member States. This reversal in public policy with regard to GMOs was influenced by the increasingly visible public controversy about GMOs in France. Ironically, however, this controversy was itself sparked off and fuelled, in large part, by a succession of measures taken by state authorities which were perceived to be incoherent and even contradictory. This facilitated the actions of anti-GMO movements and forced key actors in the agrofood industry to pre-empt the government by establishing their own cautious line with regard to GM food products.

AB - Until 1996 French public policy on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and food was broadly supportive, and there was essentially no public debate in France on this topic. But in the winter of 1996-1997, seemingly out of nowhere, a controversy emerged in the media and the wider public sphere. This was sparked off by the arrival of the first imports of transgenic soya and maize from the USA, and further inflamed by a series of contradictory governmental decisions taken with respect to the commercialisation of a specific transgenic maize, the pest-resistant Bt176. In response, government policy began to change in order to introduce a more precautionary approach to environmental and health risks and more transparent and participative decision-making procedures. But the controversy did not abate and by the end of 1998 public policy on GMOs was in disarray. In June 1999, demonstrating a complete reversal of its 1996 position, the French government called for (and in effect obtained) a moratorium at the level of the European Union (EU) on any further authorisations for the commercialisation of GMOs. Thus, whereas France was, in June 1996, one of the EU Member States with the most supportive policy toward the introduction of GM crops and food onto the market, by June 1999 the situation was entirely reversed and France was one of the most obstructive EU Member States. This reversal in public policy with regard to GMOs was influenced by the increasingly visible public controversy about GMOs in France. Ironically, however, this controversy was itself sparked off and fuelled, in large part, by a succession of measures taken by state authorities which were perceived to be incoherent and even contradictory. This facilitated the actions of anti-GMO movements and forced key actors in the agrofood industry to pre-empt the government by establishing their own cautious line with regard to GM food products.

M3 - Article

VL - 16

SP - 22

EP - 37

JO - Notizie di Politeia, rivista di etica e scelte pubbliche

JF - Notizie di Politeia, rivista di etica e scelte pubbliche

IS - 60

ER -