February 11, 2008
France bans Monsanto's GMO corn
France officially imposed a ban Saturday (11 February 2008) on a strain of GM corn produced by Monsanto Co, with the publication of an agriculture ministry order in the state's official journal.
"The growing of corn seeds ... derived from genetically modified corn strain MON810 is prohibited on [French] territory," read the order signed by Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier.
Monsanto's 810 cirb had been the only GMO crop grown in France, but the French government last month began moving to ban its further use after a watchdog authority said it had "serious doubts" about the product in a report that has been controversial even among the scientists who put it together.
The agriculture ministry order said the ban would remain in force until a decision was taken whether to renew the authorization for the strain to be sold on the French market.
French corn farmers have already said they planned to challenge the ban in court.
With the law requiring a hearing within three weeks, corn producers could still plant the variety of corn this spring if France's highest administrative court supports their appeal, said Luc Esprit, director of the Association General of Corn Producers.
The association estimates that without a ban some 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of the GMO corn would be planted this year, up from 22,000 hectares in 2007.
It estimates the ban would cause farmers losses of some EUR 10 million (US$15 million).
France last month invoked an EU safeguard procedure to temporarily bar Monsanto's 810 corn.
It followed a report by France's Provisional High Authority on GM Organisms that said it had "serious doubts" as to the safety of MON810.
Chairman Jean-Francois Le Grand, who also holds a seat in the Senate, said evidence had emerged that Mon 810 had an effect on insects, a species of earthworm and micro-organisms.
There was also concern that wind-borne pollen from MON810 could travel much further than previously thought.
