title: Paradoxical EU agricultural policies on genetically engineered crops.
abstract: European Union (EU) agricultural policy has been developed in the pursuit of laudable goals such as a competitive economy and regulatory harmony across the union. However, what has emerged is a fragmented, contradictory, and unworkable legislative framework that threatens economic disaster. In this review, we present case studies highlighting differences in the regulations applied to foods grown in EU countries and identical imported products, which show that the EU is undermining its own competitiveness in the agricultural sector, damaging both the EU and its humanitarian activities in the developing world. We recommend the adoption of rational, science-based principles for the harmonization of agricultural policies to prevent economic decline and lower standards of living across the continent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masip
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabalza
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Massot
authors.forename: Raviraj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banakar
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cebrian
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Twyman
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Capell
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albajes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christou
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D058735:Environmental Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D005062:European Union; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033161:Government Regulation; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified