July 22, 2005

Spain approves cultivating of Monsanto GM corn
 

Spain's inter-ministerial biotechnology commission has approved on Jul 13 the cultivation of Monsanto's NK603 Roundup Ready corn in the country.

The USDA has called this decision a "major step forward for the Spanish Government and for biotechnology in Spain". China had also recently approved the import of Monsanto NK603 corn.

The commission, which consists of several Spanish ministries, has decided that the agriculture ministry would be given the authority to approve new varieties derived from another Monsanto GM corn MON810, also known commercially as the YieldGard corn.

Monsanto's application to allow the growing of NK603 will now be transferred to the EC with a positive risk evaluation. The Spanish Food Safety Agency director will defend this decision before the European Food Safety Agency.

During the Jul 13 meeting, the commission also agreed to continue making case-by-case decisions on EC biotechnology proposals.

The USDA regarded the meeting's developments as "great news for Monsanto, for biotechnology and for Spanish and US farmers".

"Clearly, this is a move back to a science-based decision-making process-something we have been encouraging the government of Spain to do at each opportunity," it added.