May 10, 2007
Germany imposes stricter rules on genetically modified corn
The German government has tightened its regulations genetically modified corn seeds, particularly on biotech company Monsanto, which can be tantamount to an absolute ban.
The issue of genetically modified (GM) crops have long been controversial in Germany and now has been banned by the government.
In a letter to Monsanto, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture ministry said the GM corn from the MON 810 product line--which has been legal in the Germany until now--can only be delivered to third parties if the firm also provides an accompanying monitoring plan which researches the effects on the environment.
This amounts to a de facto ban on the cultivation of genetically modified corn, according to Peter Rudolph, who is responsible for genetic technology in the Brandenburg state ministry of agriculture. He said the letter basically means Monsanto will no longer be allowed to sell MON 810, as the company has not presented any monitoring plan up until now.
Brandenburg is the German state with the largest quantity of GM corn under cultivation.
In the letter, the federal ministry justifies its decision by writing that new information "gives reasons to suppose that the cultivation of MON 810 poses a danger to the environment."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture said letter should not be interpreted as a ban, but rather as a tightening of the regulations concerning the cultivation of the GM corn.
The new ruling could mean that crops already planted may not be allowed to be harvested. Brandenburg farmer Jörg Piprek reacted to the government's move on GM corn stating the crop is already planted and should not be considered "illegal".
The cultivation of genetically modified crops has been controversial all over Europe, with anti-GM activists going as far as ripping up crops. The German Agriculture Minister Horst Seehofer has up until now justified the cultivation of GM crops in Germany by arguing they are allowed under European Union regulations.
