EU ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS UPHOLD GM BAN

EU environment ministers have rejected proposals to force five member
countries to abandon national bans on a Monsanto variety of GM maize.

The European Commission had called on the Council of environment Ministers to insist Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Greece lifted precautionary bans on the sale and planting of MON 683 sweetcorn.

The move was rejected by 12 votes to eight, with five nations abstaining.
The UK voted in favour, despite the clear opposition to GM crops expressed by a majority of the British public and unresolved questions over handling liability for contamination of organic and conventional crops.

Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas welcomed the decision, which she said demonstrated the inability of the European Commission to force GMOs on reluctant member states.

"This is the ninth time since 1998 that member governments have rejected plans to allow a GMO product to be marketed in the EU