Why EU Triffid Flax Trade Barriers ?

[Zaphod]

Just on the linoleum idea, it has to be free enterprise, otherwise it's dead on arrival. After all, we have a massive market just south of us. And with the whole green and sustainable movement just kicking into gear (bamboo flooring anyone?), linoleum would have a huge marketing advantage.

The one other alternative is to use some of this soon-to-be overcapacity in the canola crush biz and use it for flax instead. Then ship the oil to Europe because the genetic material doesn't exist in the oil.

Either way, we get a little more value-added on the prairies.

[charliep]

I should note the reason I find interesting is not necessarily flax -
things will play out, truth will be told, things will change and life will
continue perhaps in a changed world.

The precedent for other crops is important.

Barley

80 to 85 % fed to livestock. Livestock fed biotech crops not an issue
in the markets Canada sells meat into or not enough premium to
segregate and if there are premiums, way to set up strong identity
preserved programs.

15 to 20 % malt. There concerns about biotech or more specific
genetically engineered/transgenic crops. Need to understand their
concerns and work towards solutions. Biotech is not a 100 % loss
proposition by the way as Europe (yes Europe) is working on biotech
solutions to malting traits and improving agronomic characteristics to
reduce risk around selectability.

less than 1 % food and organic markets. An important and developing
market. What is the solution to meeting the needs of this market and
at the same time allow for developing new technologies for the bigger
markets (livestock feed). Can biotech solutions add value to both
these industries? Beta glutens in diets? Improved varieties at are
suited to organic agronomic needs?

[parsley]

"doesn't exist in oil"

Really.

You mean cannot be tested by man, when made into in oil.

Hmmmmm........is your body smarter than a man-made tester gadget, though?

[parsley]

"not an issue in the markets Canada sells meat into"


Hmmmm.....perhaps not yet. Maybe a little like lead filling amalgam your dentist put in your teeth, years ago, could it end up like that?

[charliep]

I always see the list but always wonder who is doing the testing for the
genetic marker or triffid flaxseed? Have the finding been verified by
different labs other than the original one? Have the identification
processes been shared with Canada?

[LWeber]

OILWORLD - OCT 02 - A German publication

In European laboratories the GM material was identified as FP967 or Triffid, a flax variety introduced in the late nineties.However, a
recognized testing method is not yet available.

However, a recognized testing method is not yet available.

However, a recognized testing method is not yet available.

Doesn't matter to the tree-huggers; they have the media attention they wanted.

[Zaphod]

Come on. I've been agreeing with most of what you've said, but now you're way out on a limb. If incredibly sensitive testing can't find it, then it's not there. What, do we need parts per trillion? What about quadrillion? And your body will notice it? I don't think so.

But that's why zero tolerance is impossible, not just with GMO's but with any food safety issue.

The testing they've done with canola oil shows no traces. That's why canola oil was able to go into Europe long before the seeds were. Even the picky Europeans couldn't keep it out. And remember that 99% of linseed ends up in a non-food product. Does it really matter then? Of course I know what your answer will be.

[charliep]

Missed your question.

Your question - why didn't the EU approve Triffid
Flax??....thats the real question (one you haven't yet
asked)....is there a food safety issue we should
know about???"

Did anyone in Canada try to put triffid flax through
the EU regulatory system? From my sources (yours
may be different), the players at that time looked at
the cost/hassle factor and said it wasn't worthwhile
(something they are regretting) - just pull the
variety and move on. Triffid flax did make it
though the full Canadian plant with novel trait
process including health canada, environment
canada and the canadian food inspection agency.

Still curious on your comments on the health
benefits of flax in a diet versus the risk of some
unknown issue with whatever the level of
contamination of triffid flax is. Would I be better to
remove flax from my morning porridge or is it still
a healthy part of any diet? Of all the risks in the
food I eat (salt, transfats, ecoli, saminella,
microwaving in plastic, food additives, etc. etc. etc)
where does triffid flax sit as a risk factor?

[Zaphod]

After all, your argument (which I agree with) is that the customer reserves the right to say they don't like our product. Fine. So if they say they can't find any GM in the oil, you want to say it's bad anyway? That would be telling them they're wrong. That would be spreading fear with no basis in fact.

[Zaphod]

That's why the other people on this thread are asking who your visitors are. Are you trying to help resolved the problem or fan the flames?