Genetically-Modified Organisms in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). An Overview of the TTIP Negotiations and Food-Related Regulations in the EU and the U.S.

Abstract

The United States and the European Union are currently negotiating a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership called TTIP. The scope and the ambition of the negotiations seems to be unprecedented, since this agreement not only covers custom duties and tariffs, but aims at the elimination of unnecessary barriers to trade, such as regulations, norms and standards on many categories of products. In order to reach an agreement, the EU and the US negotiators are requested the difficult task of finding convergence and harmonisation between the European and the American legislations regarding horizontal principles and many specific industrial sectors. In some cases, such as safety standards of motor vehicles, the two sets of rules can be recognised as providing a similar level of protection, therefore it is simple to consider them as equal. In other cases, such as genetically-modified organism, allowed levels of pesticides in food, chemicals safety, the legislations work in a completely different way, because the approach to the issues is completely different, as it is the provided level of consumer protection. The focus of this work will be especially on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary and food-related issues (genetically-modified organisms), chemical issues (pesticides), consumer safety: when the decision is taken, will it be to the detriment of the safest regulation, as it is regarded as "unnecessary barrier to trade"? How will be possible to find common ground between different legislations that aim to protect European and American citizens? Should Civil Society be concerned about this agreement?