Specialist Director, Norwegian Ministry. Multilateralism/ Governance/ Technology/ Trade/ Environment/ Health/ Risk Management/ Agrifood Policy/ WTO SPS/ EU EEA
Oslo
Joined October 2011
- Tweets3.2K
- Following2.4K
- Followers12.3K
- Likes5.1K
Pinned Tweet
The EU has has publised the Implementation Strategy for the #NGT plant regulation.
For plant breeders, researchers, funding agencies and farmers, this sends a clear signal to prepare and get ready.
The focus now shifts from policy discussion to delivery
food.ec.europa.eu/plants/new…
It would have modernised the monarchy if the new King Haakon had asked the Norwegian people for their confidence in a referendum, as his great-grandfather Haakon VII did in 1905. The people would have voted yes, and the Norwegian monarchy would have been democratised.
A whole nation is in mourning and the people of Norway are left with a deep sense of gratitude for a long life in the service of Norway. regjeringen.no/en/whats-new/…
The EU strategy on livestock has now been published:
agriculture.ec.europa.eu/ove…
The EU #NGT #GenomeEditing regulation got a BIG YES in the ENVI committee: 56 YES and 32 NO. Thus, the formal FINAL approval by the plenary on June 17, is now set to be "a walk in the park".
Congratulations to science, reason and pragmatism in Europe.
Next steps should be:
➡️ Invest at scale to unlock new solutions to plant pests, climate, nutrition ++
➡️ Improve public understanding. NGT plants are safe
➡️ Strengthen international collaboration and remove regulatory obstacles to trade
➡️ Speed up work on #NGTs animals.
Norway’s restrictive #GMO policy may end after 33 yrs. The government's advisory body #Bioteknologirådet calls for its termination and harmonization with EU. The 3 extra criteria; benefit to society, sustainability, ethics add no value after Risk Analysis
bioteknologiradet.no/wp-cont…
Norway takes a major step towards a science-based #GMO policy in draft to allow 100+ GMOs as #feed in #aquaculture.
Since 1990 salmon has become a vegetarian. The salmon-farmers save 2 billion NOK a year in aquaculture by using more sustainable feed and no risk to health or envi.
The 100 GMOs will not be allowed in agriculture. Extra cost in agri from using GMO-free soy is 280 million NOK a year, less than 1% of the 35-40 billions NOK support to agriculture picked up by the Norwegian taxpayer/consumer, and not the farmers. Link: hoering.mattilsynet.no/Hoeri…
knut g. berdal retweeted
Prosperity and shared progress require a strong, rules-based trading order.
An excellent meeting on WTO reform and the upcoming ministerial in Cameroon with Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, @NOIweala. As a facilitator, Norway will do its part to ensure a successful result.
knut g. berdal retweeted
That’s funny. 109 studies, mostly in petri dishes, suggest possible harm while 5,000+ other studies say it’s not carcinogenic or even particularly harmful. Here’s the science from 16 global independent agencies. geneticliteracyproject.org/2…
knut g. berdal retweeted
We, 🇩🇪🇫🇷🇳🇱🇸🇪🇬🇧, are confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin.
This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny. Full statement here 👉 diplo.de/2756262
There is no harmonization of “deregulated” #NGTs. Examples include “20 mutations” (EU), “novel trait” (Canada), “novel combinations of DNA” (Nigeria) and “foreign DNA” (Japan).
Multilateral rules #WTOsps promotes harmonization by standards such as #CODEX
nature.com/articles/s44383-0…
The fragmented global regulatory landscape hamper innovation and trade. Biggest problem for #SMEs and #developing countries.
On the other hand, risk-based #NGT regulations spread across the globe and improve sustainability and food security, since up to 40% of crops are lost #FAO
knut g. berdal retweeted
A Nordic response to risks of AMOC collapse pub.norden.org/temanord2026-…
NICE.
California becomes first state to join #WHO disease network after US exit.
Gets direct access to health data and emergency resources.
A counter to US federal policy to withdraw from one of the most important UN bodies
thehill.com/homenews/state-w…
knut g. berdal retweeted
New Genomic Technics 👇 the EU Politics
For those particularly interested in the political positions on the #NGT proposal within the EP, the overview below shows how members from each political group voted. In short, EPP, Renew and Patriots for Europe voted entirely in favour, while the group of S&D was split.
