2006年VOA标准英语-World Trade Organization Opens Door for Bi

By Paige Kollock
Washington, DC
09 February 2006
 
watch Biotech Crops

Genetically² modified corn  
  
For years, the European Union has banned the sale of genetically modified foods in most European countries.  Now the World Trade Organization says that ban is no longer legal.  Here are details on the preliminary decision.

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Based on a complaint from the United States, Canada and Argentina -- the largest growers of genetically modified foods -- the World Trade Organization ruled Tuesday that the EU and six of its member states are breaking international trade rules by barring them.

Also knows as 'biofoods or 'frankenfoods', they are organisms whose genetic¹ material has been altered. 

The most popular ones are corn, soybeans, cotton and canola.  They have been around since the mid-1990s, but the EU banned their import years ago due to concern for consumer safety.     

 
Gregory Conko
  
Gregory Conko is a trade analyst³ with the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington DC..  He says the E.U.'s policies are outdated⁴. "The fact that the World Trade Organization is coming out against them, that every major scientific organization around the world is coming out against them, is reminding them that it is time to move on -- time to reform biotech restrictions⁵ in the European Union."

Proponents⁶ of the genetically modified foods say they increase yields and allow crops to better resist weeds and insects. 

While most scientists agree they are safe for consumption, opponents say the foods are not properly tested or labeled, and are unsafe for both humans and the environment.  Europeans strongly oppose the sale of these foods, in part because of several food-safety scandals in the 1990s.

Clare Oxborrow   
  
Clare Oxborrow works for Friends of the Earth, an international environmental group that opposes the ruling. She says, "The types of herbicides they use, that are specifically designed to be used on the GM [genetically modified] crop are called ‘broad spectrum⁷’ weed killers⁸, which means they kill off everything in the field apart from the GM crop that has been specifically designed to withstand it, and that leads to less food for birds and less wildlife."

The decision by the WTO panel is not final, and includes only 25 crops, not genetically modified ones.  But it is viewed by some as a victory for biotechnology groups in the United States.  The EU says it is too early to say whether or not it will appeal the ruling.

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

7 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

8 killers   

凶手( killer的名词复数 )； 消灭…者； 致命物； 极难的事

参考例句：

• He remained steadfast in his determination to bring the killers to justice. 他要将杀人凶手绳之以法的决心一直没有动摇。
• They were professional killers who did in John. 杀死约翰的这些人是职业杀手。