The biotech industry started popping the champagne corks as soon as Angela Merkel looked likely to be the next German Chancellor.

Since then, to their chagrin, the floodgates have failed to open.

But perhaps that's not surprising. As the article notes, "the majority of the German citizens are against the planting of the genetically modified crops."

Interestingly, though, if this article is accurately translated, it seems that - in their desperation to get things moving - the industry may have set a very interesting precedent: "biotechnology-based companies have proposed an initial financing of a liability fund".

If that turns out to be the case, many other countries will want to take note.
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Differences still abound in the German government over GM crops
Frankfurter Allgemeine
Translated by Mark Hucko, Checkbiotech
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=12240&start=1&control=208&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1

The parties comprising the current German coalition are not united in their approach to biotechnology.

The new German chancellor Angela Merkel appears to be more open to biotechnology than was the case with the previous Red-Green government coalition. There are uncertainties about the correct way to relax the rules governing the planting of genetically modified (GM) crops - despite the wide-spread German opposition.

Last week, the German cabinet approved only some minor regulations, but there appears to be no change of course between this and the previous red-green government.

Officially they are talking about a two-stage process. The current modifications are necessary to make sure German laws conform with the EU-laws, in order to prevent penalties.

In the course of the past year, regulations for transgenic crops have been slowly shaping, especially concerning the possible liability fund stemming from the mixing of pollen from GM crops with other crops.

A recent television appearance of the Agriculture Minister, Horst Seehofer (CSU-party), left no doubts that he wants to push through the plans of Chancellor Merkel despite the opposition of many German citizens. In public opinion polls, the majority of the German citizens are against the planting of the genetically modified crops.

Seehofer said that he does not want to ease the rules governing the large-scale plantation of transgenic crops, and that he wants to continue with a long-term process of discussion.

However the new CDU-political leaders of the new German coalition consider it a necessity to use political pressure to make sure that the liberalization announced by Chancellor Merkel will take place. They realize that there is a risk that the passage of new and more liberal laws will end up being endlessly postponed.

On the other hand, the SPD politician responsible for German research, Ulla Burchardt, cautioned against quick decisions and said that to achieve a balance between innovation and various interests, considerable time is needed. Burchardt left open the question whether or not in the end the more liberal rules will prevail.

In the meantime, biotechnology-based companies have proposed an initial financing of a liability fund. This fund will reimburse farmers' financial losses, if they have to sell their crops with a loss due to cross-pollination with genetically engineered plants.

© Frankfurter Allgemeine

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