GM food ban comes into effect, sparks WFP concern

An Angolan law banning the import and use of genetically modified (GM) foods has come into effect, sparking fears that donor contributions - already being scaled back - will be cut even further. The law, which came into effect in December 2004, prohibits the entry of GM seeds and grains unless destined for food relief. But even food-aid grains, like maize, must be milled before they are distributed to beneficiaries, either before arriving in the country or soon after. Humanitarian workers fear this costly milling process will mean less produce will get through to the one million people in Angola - many of them internally displaced persons or returning refugees - who still rely on food aid to survive. The World Food Programme (WFP) insisted it was not trying to pressurise the government into accepting GM products, but warned that the new law could adversely effect food contributions from donors. "This ban affects WFP because it could reduce the donations we receive. Some donors have already expressed their intention to reduce donations because of the extra costs the milling would imply," WFP spokesman Cristovao Simao told IRIN. WFP said it had sufficient food in its warehouses to help beneficiaries until March, and would distribute 9,000 metric tonnes of food to around 900,000 people in January, but the future was less certain. "The question remains: who will bear the extra costs for milling new food aid arriving to Angola, now that the new law has come into effect?" Simao wondered. The UN food agency has been informing donors for several months of the government's intention to change the law, and have asked for donations of non-GM food or maize meal that has already been milled. "Another solution is for donor countries to donate cash instead, and we can buy food in Angola and in the region," he noted. Some large donor countries have already begun cutting their contributions. "When the government's intention was first announced at the start of 2004, we were expecting about 19,000 metric tonnes of maize from the United States. This was later replaced by just 14,000 tonnes of sorghum, which is not a GM crop, and this has had an impact on our beneficiaries," Simao said. United States embassy representatives were not immediately available to comment. WFP has faced a severe funding crisis since the beginning of 2004 and still needs US $50 million to see its operations through until the end of 2005, while ongoing cereal shortages have forced it to halve cereal rations. "We've reduced the food rations of the less vulnerable, even some of the returnees, reserving it for the most vulnerable. This has enabled us to continue giving food aid to everyone," Simao said.