May 28, 2007

France may also impose restriction on GM corn

France could follow Germany's restrictions on a strain of genetically-modified corn made by the US croptech giant Monsanto, according to French daily Le Parisien. 

Newly-appointed French ecology minister Alan Juppe said France may also suspend the use of MON 810 seed following Germany's restriction of the crop upon its discovery that toxin supposed to kill the corn pest is being secreted in ways that "are not precisely what was expected".

MON 810 exudes a poison to kill an insect called the European corn-borer.

German's federal government is reportedly allowing MON 810 on the market if Monsanto provides an accompanying "monitoring plan" on its effects to the environment.

The restrictions have the impact of a de-facto moratorium, as Monsanto has not presented any MON 810 monitoring plan so far.

Juppe said transgenic research, both in medicine and in food, should always continue, adding the question of GM crops in France would be addressed at a national review of environment policies to be held in October.