Lyon: Commission must clear soya import bottleneck

9.03.45am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jul 2010

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has called on European Health Commissioner Dalli to take immediate action to clear the bottleneck on soya imports caused by the zero tolerance rules on GM contamination of imports.

In a joint letter from Chair of the European Agriculture Committee Paolo de Castro and the coordinators of the other major political groups, Mr Lyon called on the Commission to end the continuing uncertainty.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"It is unreasonable for the European Commission to insist on O% GM contamination on imported soya.

"The continued failure of the Commission to bring forward proposals to amend the tolerance levels is causing real problems for the feed industry and for farmers who are faced with high feed.

"The industry has been waiting patiently for the promises of action by the Commission to address this problem turning into reality.

"Commissioner Dalli has been in post since January, he is well aware of the concerns of farmers and the feed industry.

It is time he took the plans out of the drawer and implemented them."