Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07PARIS4170, FRANCE REEVALUATES BIOTECH POLICY; MUCH AT STAKE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07PARIS4170.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07PARIS4170 2007-10-04 14:27 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Paris
VZCZCXRO6717
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #4170/01 2771427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041427Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0652
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHMRE/AMCONSUL MARSEILLE 1913
RUEHSR/AMCONSUL STRASBOURG 0491
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2744
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR ACTING SECRETARY CONNER AND DEP U/S TERPSTRA 
FAS FOR ADMINISTRATOR YOST 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD EU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE REEVALUATES BIOTECH POLICY; MUCH AT STAKE 
 
REF:  (A) PARIS 4139 (B) PARIS 3970 (C) PARIS 3967 
 
PARIS 00004170  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1.(SBU) Summary: A moratorium or ban on planting biotech corn could 
be the signature outcome of France's national environmental policy 
review this month.  Such a move would violate both WTO and EU 
requirements, but the Sarkozy Administration may be looking for a 
high-profile green initiative to balance its strong pro-nuclear 
policy and a "pro-American" foreign policy.  French farmers and seed 
companies are pushing back and the Mission Country Team is lobbying 
GOF counterparts before raising the issue to ministerial level.  End 
Summary 
 
2. (SBU) The Sarkozy Administration's national environmental policy 
dialogue (the "Grenelle") is one of its signature initiatives. 
Agriculture and biotechnology figure prominently in the process. 
Most proposals emanating from the Grenelle dialogue are not overly 
controversial, but biotech is emerging as the wedge issue.  Minister 
of State Borloo, leading the process, told parliamentarians in a 
widely reported statement that GMOs could not be controlled and 
posed unacceptable risks.  Center left "Le Monde" reported that the 
GOF would ban commercial sales of biotech seeds.  The chair of the 
Grenelle's biotech committee explained that a moratorium rather than 
a ban was envisioned pending new biotech legislation. 
 
3.(SBU) Borloo's statement blindsided Agriculture Minister Barnier 
who was booed off the stage at a major conclave of farmers the same 
day.  The FNSEA farmers' union as well as GNIS, the seed 
association, walked out of the following session of the Grenelle 
working group, and were brought back in only after Borloo 
backtracked assuring the Farm Union FNSEA, that President Sarkozy 
will make any final decisions, after the report from the "Grenelle" 
is published, likely in late fall. 
 
4. (SBU) The "Grenelle" biotech working group published its 
preliminary conclusions on September 27.  The report is subject to 
debate and comment for the next several weeks.  Its principal 
recommendations were: 
 
-- a new biotech law (which the GOF will need in any event to comply 
with the EU coexistence directive) based on freedom of choice to 
produce and consume with or without GMOs; 
 
-- incorporation of the "polluter pays" principle with regard to 
contamination of crops by transgenic material, without specifying 
whether farmers or seed companies would be deemed the "polluters"; 
and 
 
-- creation of a single "High Biotech Authority" incorporating a 
range of scientific expertise and additional expertise from civil 
society groups. 
 
5.(SBU) The working group report also stressed that the 0.9 percent 
threshold for biotech content in the EU labeling requirement for 
food and feed had no particular scientific basis.  The group 
highlighted that no threshold had yet been established for labeling 
of planting seeds.  French seed industry representatives were quick 
to assert that the 0.9 percent threshold was set by the European 
Union and applies to all member states and both the seed industry 
and farm union officials threatened to sue the GOF at the European 
Court of Justice (ECJ) should the GOF set a lower threshold. 
 
6. (SBU) French biotech corn production (all MON 810) rose from 
5,000 hectares in 2006 to over 21,000 hectares in the 2007 planting 
season.  While farmers and seed companies have kept a very low 
profile on this shift, the Grenelle process has raised the stakes 
substantially.  On October 3, a coalition representing 325,000 
farmers published an open letter to President Sarkozy in major 
national papers.  The letter appeals to the President not to give in 
to the GMO fear-mongers, noting that authorized GMOs pose no health 
risk and reduce pesticide usage and therefore contribute to "green 
growth." 
 
7. (SBU) Farm organizations also said they would sue if the GOF 
imposed a moratorium.  Given that national bans of EU-approved 
varieties are WTO illegal (the EC reiterated its opposition to 
national biotech bans the day after the "Le Monde" revelation, 
underscoring that the ECJ had recently condemned Austria's biotech 
ban), the GOF might opt to accomplish the same result by suspending 
sales of MON 810 seeds pending scientific review or enacting a 
biotech law that would make its production economically unviable. 
 
8. (SBU) In the short term, a biotech ban or moratorium would cut 
 
PARIS 00004170  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
U.S. seed exports, now running $30-50 million annually.  More 
significantly, it would signal an about-face from a science-oriented 
approach by France on EU  biotech issues including US corn exports. 
France is a driver of EU farm and agricultural trade policy and will 
assume the Presidency in July 2008.  Embassy Country Team members 
are coordinating with U.S. seed companies and are calling on a 
variety of GOF officials to express our concerns before raising the 
issue to Ministerial level. 
 
STAPLETON