Cablegate: Czech Republic: Reply to Demarche On Biotech Votes

VZCZCXRO0621
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHPG #0608 2880952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150952Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1828
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000608

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USTR, USDA/FAS, DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD TBIO EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON BIOTECH VOTES
AT OCTOBER 19 MEETINGS: EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE COUNCIL
AND STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOOD CHAIN AND ANIMAL HEALTH

REF: STATE 106819

1. (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel to Ministry of Agriculture
Food Safety Division Head Petr Benes on October 15. Benes
said that the Czech Republic intends to support renewal of
previously approved maize varieties and to support approval
of three new biotech maize varieties at the October 19
Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health meeting.
He said that he expects France, Italy, Germany, and possibly
other large EU states to abstain from voting during this
meeting, however, and anticipates that the remaining member
states will not be able to form a qualified majority. Benes
also said that the meeting's agenda is already set and will
not include a discussion on the EU's zero-tolerance policy
towards biotech.
Thompson-Jones

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