POLICY AND ACTIVITY ON GMOs: THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP (UK) THE EUROCOOP ENVIRONMENT GROUP

1. POLICY AND ACTIVITY ON GMOs: THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP (UK) THE EUROCOOP ENVIRONMENT GROUP Duncan Bowdler, Trade Liaison Manager, the Co-operative Group and Chair, Eurocoop Environment Group

2. The Co-operative Group’s policy on GMOs is guided by the precautionary principle Our aim is to eliminate any ingredients or additives that derive from GM crops We see no evidence that GMOs offer any significant benefits to our members / consumers GMO POLICY - BACKGROUND

3. In 1998 we instructed our suppliers to remove GM ingredients or reformulate their products Co-op brand food products do not contain any ingredients or additives derived from GMOs Animals on Co-op farms are reared on diets free from GM feed We insist on traceability from our suppliers to ensure that our customers retain the right to choose GMO POLICY

4. In 1999 the Co-operative Group, Britain’s leading farmer, confirmed it would not be taking part in the Government’s GM crop trials We do not believe that commercial trials should take place until it has been sufficiently demonstrated that there are no adverse environmental effects Our discussions with various parties led us to conclude that the design of the trials would do little to allay current environmental and consumer concerns GMO POLICY

5. In 2003 we conducted a national survey which revealed over 50% of our members and consumers were against GM food Currently consulting our Members again on this issue We use our consumer jury to debate the use of GMOs in foods and medicine The Co-op Bank does not invest in any businesses involved in the development of GMOs GMO POLICY

6. 1994 – the Co-op took the lead by labelling cheese which contains rennet produced by genetic modification 1999 – Co-op Brand suppliers told not to use genetically modified ingredients 2000 - required chickens, turkeys and ducks bred for meat to be fed on a non-GM diet 2001 – required feed for laying hens to be non-GM 2001 – Co-op ensures that all fresh Pork comes from Pigs fed on non-GM soya 2003 – Members confirmed the policy of banning GM ingredients in food and not participating in GM crop trials GMO POLICY - TIMELINE

7. Both Food and Environment Groups have been active in campaigning against GMOs over the past 10 years Lobbying intense during 2002 – 2004 Helped to build coalition with IFOAM, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and EEB against GMOs GM POLICY – EUROCOOP

8. Consumers have a Right to Know and a Right to Choose All GM material to be subject to a rigorous approval process Campaigned for an EU Labelling Scheme based on traceability and segregation GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

9. Threshold for adventitious contamination should be set at a very low level Some contamination often technically unavoidable No tolerance for unauthorised GM material GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

10. GM contamination of seeds is a crucial issue Threshold level of contamination of seeds should lower than for food Eurocoop has campaigned for a 0.1% threshold for seeds GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

11. Strongly opposed to GMOs in organic products Recommends a 0.1% threshold for adventitious presence in organic production Opposed to the 0.9% threshold adopted by the EU in Spring 2007 GM POLICY - EUROCOOP

12. Precautionary principle should apply Need segregated supplies Traceability to ensure consumers’ Right to Choose NO GM ingredients in own brand products Policies to eliminate GM Crops from the diets of animals reared for Co-op Brand products SUMMARY OF MAIN PRINCIPLES

13. When Members are asked they are opposed to GM products Need to demonstrate that there are no adverse environmental effects SUMMARY OF MAIN PRINCIPLES

14. THANK YOU! Duncan Bowdler, Trade Liaison Manager, the Co-operative Group FINALLY…..