April 27, 2004

EU Farm Ministers Stall On GM Corn
 

EU farm ministers were unable to agree on the approval for the sale of BT-11 bio-engineered corn, and sent the issue back to the European Commission on Monday, a source said.

If approved, the measure would in effect lift a five-year European Union ban on genetically modified foods.

"There was no qualified majority in the Council of Ministers. The BT-11 file was transmitted to the commission," the source said on the sidelines of a meeting here.

The outcome was not unexpected because of wide differences of opinion on the question, and lays responsibility at the feet of EU commissioners who favour lifting the ban.

EU consumers, however, might not support the approval since a majority is opposed to GM products.