Darren Abrahams Warns of Overregulation of Genetically Modified Crops

A European Commission report  on measures adopted by EU States addressing the cultivation of genetically modified ("GM") crops has concluded that the EU should hold back from adopting legislation covering all 25 Member States. The European Commission will review the case for legislation again in 2008.  Measures to address the "coexistence" of GM, conventional and organic farming have been strongly lobbied for by opponents of GM technology. 

In an article by the European Voice, Darren Abrahams, from Steptoe's Brussels Office, warns against seeing co-existence as a "one-size-fits-all" issue which could be satisfactorily addressed by EU legislation: "Coexistence is a local issue—by definition—so using the hammer of EU-wide legislation to crack the co-existence nut would offer little comfort to the industry."  

Darren Abrahams is an English Barrister. His practice is focused on EU law, with a particular emphasis on regulatory requirements and related commercial issues in the fields of environment and life sciences. He is a recommended practitioner in the 2005/06 Life Sciences Industry Report, an independent survey of leading multi-national companies approved counsel.

Read the article, Fischer Boel delays GM-crop co-existence law and the European Commission report. Visit the European Voice website here.