VZCZCXYZ0023
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHPG #0102 0461453
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151453Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0068
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS IN FAVOR OF BIOTECH CORN, COTTON AND
SOYBEANS
REF: STATE 13142
Post delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Agriculture
Food Safety Officer Karel Riha. Riha did not respond until
after the EU regulatory committee meeting on February 12, but
he said the Czechs voted to approve biotech varieties for
soybeans and cotton. He noted the Standing Committee did not
vote on biotech corn on February 12, but rather voted on this
variety (Regulation 1829/2003) in December 2007 (the Czech
Republic voted in favor). The regulation on corn was not
approved since a majority wasn't reached, but Riha expects it
will be approved later. The Czechs voted on February 12 to
cancel the approval of biotech corn under the old EU
regulation 258/1997 since it concerned only certain biotech
products such as food additives, while the new proposed
regulation is extensive and includes food and feed, import
and processing.
Graber