On Friday, 30 May 2008, when COP9 closed, the German Ministry on Environment issued a press release, summarizing the results. For GM trees it simply stated: "The de-facto moratorium for the use of genetically modified trees will be continues." (Für den Einsatz von gv-Bäumen wird das faktische Moratorium fortgesetzt.) But now, a few days later, the text is changed: "On the topic of GM trees it was decided that without a risk assessment parties to the Convention have the right to renounce the use of GM trees." (Zum Thema Gentechnisch veränderte Bäume wurde beschlossen, dass ohne Risikoanalyse Vertragsstaaten das Recht haben, auf den Einsatz gentechnisch veränderter Bäume zu verzichten.)
The German Minister of Environment is currently president of the COP, so he should know: Is it a de-facto moratorium or not? Or is it one that can't be called like that?
