St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Snail's Pace In Europe

Genetically modified crops appear to have hit another snag in finding acceptance in Europe. European Union officials now say an agreement on revising the current approval system for genetically modified organisms is unlikely before the summer of 2000.

Trade protectionism undoubtedly has quite a bit to do with the latest delay. But a large and undeniable force of resistance is consumer skepticism about both the safety of the technology and its social implications.

Under pressure from the American biotechnology industry, including Monsanto Co., the European Union is trying to revise its rules on which genetically modified organisms are acceptable. American biotech companies also hope the revision will streamline the patchwork of regulations that now vary greatly from country to country in Europe.

Navigating these regulatory shoals is a nightmare for any company. Add to this the fact that some countries, like Austria, Luxembourg and France, have already slapped bans on certain genetically altered crops. It's easy to understand why biotechnology companies would search for a more unified approach. Last year alone, American companies lost an estimated $ 200 million in corn exports to European Union countries because modified corn grown in the United States has yet to be approved in Europe.

As frustrating as these delays are, the biotech industry is itself partly to blame for having not adequately educated a skeptical public about this powerful new technology.

Public fears center on food safety, consumer choice and the broader environmental worry that genetically engineered traits in one crop might unintentionally spread to others.

Monsanto and other biotechnology companies insist that the new crop strains are both healthy and environmentally safe. They also say the advent of genetically altered crops means more consumer choice, not less.

But skeptics remain wary. More independent science could help calm those fears. The biotechnology industry hopes a newly appointed study from the National Academy of Sciences, expected out next fall, will go a long way to do that.

To its credit, say industry insiders, Monsanto is facing up to the industry's tactical miscalculation of public alarm in Europe and has taken steps to address the concerns. Last year, it ran large information campaigns and held public meetings in England and France. The campaigns met with mixed success. Monsanto has also softened its once hard-line opposition to labeling of genetically altered organisms marketed in Europe.

Monsanto, however, is nearly alone in coming to terms with the strong resistance in Europe. If the industry as a whole does not face up to the problem, it can only expect further delays - and loss of revenues - in a skeptical Europe.