Cablegate: France's Abstention at Eu Regulatory Committee On October

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RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150648Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0776
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHMRE/AMCONSUL MARSEILLE 1915
RUEHSR/AMCONSUL STRASBOURG 0496
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2747
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS PARIS 004255

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS PASS USEU FOR AGMINCOUNSELOR
STATE FOR OES; EUR/ERA AND EB(SPIRNAK);
STATE PASS USTR FOR MURPHY;
USDA/OS/CONNER/TERPSTRA;
USDA/FAS FOR OA/YOST;
OCRA/CURTIS
STA/SIMMONS/JONES/HENNEY
FAA/YOUNG;
EU POSTS PASS TO AGRICULTURE AND ECON
GENEVA FOR USTR, ALSO AGRICULTURE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV EU FR

SUBJECT: FRANCE'S ABSTENTION AT EU REGULATORY COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER
10

REF: (A) STATE 140452 (B) PARIS 3967
(C) PARIS 4170

On October 10, France abstained on four biotech product votes at the
EU regulatory committee (Reftel A). France provided no scientific
rationale for its action. We expect France to abstain on all votes
involving biotechnology approvals pending the outcome of an ongoing
environmental public process (Reftel B and C) which should conclude
in late October/early November. Government sources confirm that
future votes will depend on the outcome of this process, whether
France will be prepared to adopt clear positions on biotech products
before the next EU regulatory committee vote on November 22 - 23
remains uncertain.

PEKALA

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