US embassy cable - 02ROME3508

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
USUN FOR SHESTACK 
STATE FOR IO/EDA: WINNICK AND JOHNSON; EB:KLEMM, HAUSER AND 
PEREZ; EB/TPP/ATT WINTON; OES FOR HAROLD FOSTER 
USDA FOR ED SCARBROUGH, USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES, 
USDA/APHIS FOR ENRIGHT/DUNAHAY 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03508  01 OF 02  161859Z 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
 
FROM FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC, ETRD, EAGR, ETRD, EAGR, EAID, UN, FAO, WFP, EAID AORC, UN, FAO, WFP 
SUBJECT:  UN TO SEEK COMMON POLICY ON GMO FOOD AID? 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: FODAG HAS LEARNED FROM THE WORLD FOOD 
PROGRAM (PLEASE PROTECT) THAT THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL HAS 
ASKED HIS UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS 
TO "TAKE THE LEAD IN FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT AND 
ARTICULATION OF A COHERENT SYSTEM-WIDE POSITION ON THE ISSUE 
OF IMPORTATION OF FOOD AID CONTAINING GENETICALLY MODIFIED 
ORGANISMS."  WE BELIEVE THAT A MORE APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR THE 
UN WOULD BE TO FACILITATE THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO 
COUNTRIES CONCERNING CURRENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL 
POLICIES.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU)  THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (PLEASE PROTECT) PROVIDED 
FODAG WITH CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE UN UNDERSECRETARY 
GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND THE HEADS OF THE ROME 
FOOD AGENCIES IN WHICH UNDERSECRETARY OSHIMA STATES THAT THE 
UN SECRETARY GENERAL, "CONCERNED BY THE HUMANITARIAN 
SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE, AND PARTICULARLY THE CONCERNS 
EXPRESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE ABOUT THE 
IMPORTATION OF FOOD AID CONTAINING GENETICALLY MODIFIED 
ORGANISMS," HAS ASKED UNDERSECRETARY OSHIMA TO "TAKE THE 
LEAD IN FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT AND ARTICULATION OF A 
COHERENT SYSTEM-WIDE POSITION ON THE ISSUE OF IMPORTATION OF 
FOOD AID CONTAINING GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS." 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03508  01 OF 02  161859Z 
(CORRESPONDENCE FAXED TO IO/EDA 7/10/02). 
 
3.  (U) THE ROME UN BODIES  WITH RELEVANT POLICIES ARE:  THE 
UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION'S (FAO) CODEX 
ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (IS IT SAFE TO EAT?) AND THE WFP 
(CAN IT BE USED AS FOOD AID?).  WE DO NOT KNOW IF 
UNDERSECRETARY OSHIMA HAS QUERIED OTHER UN BODIES. 
 
4.  (SBU) THE WFP RESPONSE TO OSHIMA'S REQUEST STATES THAT 
WFP ACCEPTS ONLY FOOD AID WHICH MEETS FOOD SAFETY 
REGULATIONS OF THE DONOR AND RECIPIENT COUNTRY AND WHICH 
MEETS CODEX STANDARDS. THE LETTER FURTHER STATES THAT "IT IS 
PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR A NONTECHNICAL BODY LIKE OCHA 
TO GET INVOLVED IN SETTING POLICY IN THIS AREA, OR WE COULD 
SOON BE AT ODDS WITH WTO, THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS AND MAJOR 
DONORS." 
 
5.  (SBU) THE FAO RESPONSE NOTES THAT NATIONAL POLICIES 
DIFFER ON THE SUBJECT, BUT STATES THAT THE FAO'S "POSITION" 
IS THAT THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL SHOULD BE FOLLOWED ON THE 
QUESTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY. (COMMENT: HOWEVER, THE FAO 
RESPONSE INCORRECTLY CHARACTERIZES SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE 
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL, INCLUDING IMPLYING 
THAT THE ADVANCE INFORMED AGREEMENT PROVISIONS FOR LIVING 
MODIFIED ORGANISMS FOR INTENTIONAL INTRODUCTION INTO THE 
ENVIRONMENT WOULD APPLY TO FOOD AND STATING THAT THE 
PROTOCOL STIPULATES THAT GRAIN SHIPMENTS SHOULD BE MILLED TO 
ENSURE GRAIN FOR FOOD WILL NOT BE PLANTED. END COMMENT.) 
 
6. (SBU) CONCERNING FOOD SAFETY, THE FAO RESPONSE REFERS TO 
THE SCIENCE-BASED STANDARDS OF THE FAO/WHO CODEX 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03508  01 OF 02  161859Z 
ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND NOTES THAT THE CODEX AD HOC 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON FOODS DERIVED FROM 
BIOTECHNOLOGY HAS DEVELOPED PRINCIPLES FOR THE SAFETY 
ASSESSMENT OF FOODS DERIVED FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED 
SOURCES AND GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY ASSESSMENTS OF FOODS 
DERIVED FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS.  (COMMENT:  THE 
FAO RESPONSE DOES NOT MENTION THAT CODEX DOES NOT REQUIRE 
LABELING FOR GMO PRODUCTS.  END COMMENT.) 
 
6. (SBU) THE FAO RESPONSE CONCLUDES: "FAO BELIEVES THAT 
GOVERNMENTS MUST CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF STARVATION AND 
MALNUTRITION FOR THE HEALTH OF THEIR POPULATIONS...AND 
WHETHER THESE OUTWEIGH THE REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASED 
RISKS TO HUMAN HEALTH FROM CONSUMING FOODS DERIVED FROM 
MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE ADDITIONAL RISK TO THE 
ENVIRONMENT." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
7.  (SBU) CONFUSION (SOME POLITICALLY GENERATED, SOME 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ6701 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03508  02 OF 02  161900Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    AID-00   CIAE-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  EB-00 
      EXME-00  EUR-00   EXIM-01  E-00     UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  ACE-00   SP-00    SSO-00 
      STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  G-00     SAS-00     /009W 
                  ------------------CC0D3B  161900Z /45 
R 160815Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4885 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2222 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
USEU BRUSSELS 2743 
AMEMBASSY HARARE 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
USUN FOR SHESTACK 
STATE FOR IO/EDA: WINNICK AND JOHNSON; EB:KLEMM, HAUSER AND 
PEREZ; EB/TPP/ATT WINTON; OES FOR HAROLD FOSTER 
USDA FOR ED SCARBROUGH, USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES, 
USDA/APHIS FOR ENRIGHT/DUNAHAY 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03508  02 OF 02  161900Z 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
 
FROM FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:  AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, ETRD, EAGR, EAID 
SUBJECT:  UN TO SEEK COMMON POLICY ON GMO FOOD AID? 
 
GENUINE) ON THE SUBJECT OF GMO'S IN FOOD AID IS HAMPERING 
FOOD AID RELIEF EFFORTS.  FODAG BELIEVES THAT THE FAO, IN 
PARTICULAR, HAS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO ITS MANDATE TO EDUCATE 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON ISSUES FALLING WITH IT PURVIEW.   WE 
NOTE IN THIS REGARD THAT THE FAO RESPONSE TO THE OSHIMA 
LETTER (SIGNED BY FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL JACQUES DIOUF) 
INCORRECTLY CHARACTERIZES SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE 
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL LABELING SYSTEM. 
WITH ADVICE LIKE THIS, WE CAN ONLY FEAR FOR THE "SYSTEM-WIDE 
POLICY" THAT MAY EMERGE. WE BELIEVE THAT A MORE APPROPRIATE 
ROLE FOR THE UN WOULD BE TO FACILITATE THE PROVISION OF 
INFORMATION TO COUNTRIES CONCERNING CURRENT NATIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL POLICIES. HEILEMAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME03508 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED