A Field Trial’s Calvary
On this page, a brief chronology of the VIB case is presented. If you prefer a slightly longer, continuous text, please take a look here. Both pages enable further navigating for more background info.
The Application
November 18, 2007: VIB requests a permit for a field trial with genetically modified poplars
November 30, 2007: The request file is declared admissible
December 6, 2007: Public consultation is started
January 10, 2008: VIB organizes a neighborhood information evening
January 12, 2008: Public consultation is concluded
January 21, 2008: The competent authorities request extra information from VIB
April 14, 2008: VIB submits an extended file
April 25, 2008: The Biosafety Advisory Council issues a favorable opinion
May 15, 2008: Flemish Minister for the Environment Hilde Crevits gives a positive advice
The Incomprehensible Refusal
May 26, 2008: Ministers Laurette Onkelinx (Public Health) and Paul Magnette (Climate and Energy) turn down the permit request
May 27, 2008: VIB expresses its disbelief about the refusal and is followed in this by, among others, Minister Patricia Ceysens, VIB's Minister of Tutelage
The Ministers Persevere
May 29, 2008: Minister Magnette declares that “the decision may be reconsidered, should new elements present themselves”
June 12, 2008: VIB delivers a new element, a supplementary environmental research protocol. The Ministers choose to ignore the new element for over three weeks
July 1, 2008: The Ministers refer the protocol to the Biosafety Advisory Council
July 9, 2008: At Minister Ceysens’ request, the case is discussed in the Negotiation Committee; the federal Ministers in charge choose to disregard the decision of the Committee
July 23, 2008: VIB files a claim with the Council of State, with full support of Minister Ceysens
July 24, 2008: Minister Ceysens formally grants permission for ‘protective measures’
July 25, 2008: VIB plants a border of non-modified poplars around the location intended for the genetically modified trees
Positive signals
September 5, 2008: The Boerenbond’s President expresses his ‘vicarious shame’ over the Ministers’ attitude
September 9, 2008: American researchers receive 1 million dollar from their government for field trials with modified poplars
September 11, 2008: The European Parliament subscribes to the goal to have by 2020 at least 10% of the energy used in road transport from renewables
September 24, 2008: VIB informs about the financial injection of 1.6 million dollar from Stanford University in its poplar research program
October 5, 2008: The European Commission considers field trials with modified poplar trees necessary
The poplars go abroad
October 6, 2008: VIB is moving poplars to Germany
October 20, 2008: Hearing by the Council of State concerning VIB vs Federal Government. The auditor of the court gives a very positive advice.
October 23, 2008: Marc Van Montagu, one of the founding fathers of genetic modification, is chosen as the greatest living Belgian scientist.
October 29, 2008: The permit request in The Netherlands
December 8, 2008: Positive opinion for the field trial request in The Netherlands
December 16, 2008: VIB organizes a neighborhood information evening for the Dutch field trial.
Positive news
December 23, 2008: The Council of State suspends the refusal of the ministers.
January 27, 2009: The Dutch Government publishes its permit proposal. The same day the British Government announces an investment of 27 million pounds into second generation biofuels.
February 13, 2009: Minister Magnette announces that he will allow the field trial under very strict conditions.
February 17, 2009: VIB receives the formal permit.
April 23, 2009: VIB receives a formal permit in the Netherlands.
May 6, 2009: Minister Ceysens plants first transgene poplar in Flanders
The Calvary Continued...
VIB will adapt this page as soon as new developments arise.