The EU Parliament and representatives from member states have reached an agreement on genetically-modified (GM) crops in which EU nations can overrule, within their own territories, any approvals made by the bloc on allowing GM food.  

The deal will also permit the EU to approve GM food without member-state votes.

Currently, this agreement requires the final approval of the EU Parliament and a separate committee of member-state representatives. In addition, EU nations may have to wait until a legislation grants them the authority to ban GM food in their respective territories. 

The arrangements is expected to conclude by spring 2015, said experts.

With this latest development, GM crops, which had been held back from approval for a long time, will be able to enter the market.

"(The agreement was) a significant step forward, after four years of intense debates," said Vytenis Andriukaitis, the EU commissioner of health and food safety. "(It will) give governments at least the same weight as scientific advice when it comes to important decisions concerning food and environment."

Some parties had voiced disappointment over the deal.

"The agreement enables member states to formally reject safe products which are approved at European level (while) European farmers have lost their freedom to choose," said Beat Späth, from Belgium-based biotechnology lobby, EuropaBio.