January 23, 2009

Biotech experts in the European Union will discuss in February on whether France and Greece to finally allow the only genetically crop authorised for cultivation on EU soil, officials said on Thursday (January 22).

Both countries are now facing an order by the European Commission to repeal their bans despite using legal provisions to ban growing of MON 810 corn developed by US biotech company Monsanto.

A committee of experts, representing the EU's 27 member countries plus Commission officials, will meet on Feb. 16 to vote on whether to approve both draft orders.

The Commission would need a weighted majority of countries to order France and Greece to lift the bans. There can also be a weighted majority against, when the Commission would withdraw the orders and reconsider.

If there is no majority either for or against, EU ministers will be asked to decide and ff they cannot agree after three months, EU law gives the final say to the Commission, which would most probably issue both orders.

France banned cultivation of MON 810 maize seeds in February 2008, while Greece used the legal provision, known as a national safeguard measure, against MON 810 in early 2005 and has extended its ban at least twice since then.

In both cases, the European Food Safety Authority said there is no specific scientific evidence to justify the bans.

EU environment ministers will discuss at their meeting in early March whether to order Hungary to lift a similar ban.