Flax tidbits

[Choice2U]

This isn't about consumers/producers otherwise the EU "government" and the cdn government would be out of the picture. Thus bad politics has a potential as both governments are involved.

This isn't about consumers/producers otherwise organic producers who have a guaranteed protocol (accepted by the EU) would not have to suffer one second because their protocol keeps the GM out of their products.

It's about one government setting its own rules (fine by me as we do it with our supply management sector so Canada is two faced if it were to complain). It's about one government finding a contravention of its rule, not providing evidence to verify its concern, using that concern to broadbrush all similar products including those with supposed tighter protocols. It's about a government that has decided to close a border rather than send one shipment home on a contravention basis and requiring any future shipments to be tested. This would have been a pragmatic, "safe" response that would not stink of a trade barrier.

[Zaphod]

The trade barrier is possible, but my question is why? The EU barely grows flax any more so they're not protecting their own farmers. What is the motive?

[DanHenry33]

zaphod, they don't supply enough soy either and you should see whats happening on that front.....its politics, pure and simple ...the trade barrier makes certain EU politicians look good....and now there is a lively political fight at the highest levels on this issue....http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/time-to-break-the-logjam-over-gmos/

I hope Pars will actually try answer my questions on why didn't the EU approve Triffid flax when it received the submission in the late 1990's....is there a food or fed safety issue with Triffid Flax?....did the US and Canadian governments miss something?...

[Choice2U]

I'm totally guessing but the EU behind the scenes has been softening in general on the GMO issue over the past few years. What's the best way for the anti-GMO crowd to turn this tide. Have a local agency find/plant/invent (testing has not been confirmed by third party) a GMO scare and get the people up in arms, phoning their politicians, threatening the populace about what would happen if this was their food and not their paint/linoleum.

Can they grow flax?...Germany is the same latitude as Canada. When I was over there, I was amazed to find Canada Thistle, RR Pigweed, Lamb's quarters but then I realized that all NA seed came over on a boat from western Europe 150 years ago and I'm betting their weed control was not great back then so why is it a surprise that we have similar weeds. Maybe with us out of the market, it would be easier to develop more homegrown.

I'm not the conspiracy theorist type but it's interesting to think about things. I've never guessed which corporate takeover would be next in our industry so my spidey senses leave something to be desired.

But sh_t happens and after the fact, things sometimes make sense.

[furrowtickler]

pars, I will love to see the reaction when you and the rest of the organic crowd get your perfectly "wholesome" products regected from the E.U. and drop in value by half over some B.S. excuse. It will happen sooner than later, I will bet the farm on it.
"Manure causes cancer!!!" wich is B.S. but they have the high tach tests and find it in Canadisn grown organic food - but will not release the proof. What will you say then? The consumer is always right , right? Just a thought and a fact of life, IMO.

[parsley]

A Saturday night equation:

Wine weddingdance paralyzers, just never you mind, dancing being an all round bad ass = impossible woman what was that question again? Parsey

[wd9]

Good discussion.

Wonder how many other years it was detected however this year they just wanted a better price? Seems less of a detection of a marker and moreso a financial issue, or a just don't have the money issue. We will never know.

[sumdumguy]

Parsley, you are standing up well to the beating you are taking. I remember the arguments about GMO from the very start- but the big boys wanna grow more for less-and less-and less. Good Job- here we are- Conundrum. Which crop will be next- and how can we go back?

[parsley]

Mustard

Don't run up your visa buying your Christmas gifts early if you are expecting to pay it off with mustard sales.

[parsley]

sumdumguy,

CFIA and CGC, since they are the rules police, need to establish segregation rules. GM free port areas. GM free gathering elevators?

If we can move bananas in and to Canada 24/7 all winter, we can work on segregating grain products.

To do otherwise is folly. Pars