June 27, 2005

EU continues GMO rapeseed ban
 

EU environment ministers voted on Jun 24 to uphold eight national bans on specific GMO rapeseed types, the first time since 1998 the bloc has agreed on anything regarding the biotech policy, according to Reuters.

EU's unofficial moratorium on authorising new GMOs has a short history, which ended last year after its executive body authorised imports of a biotech corn.

During the ban, EU did not allow experimental or commercial growth of new gene crops or imports of new GMO-based food products. Before 1999 however, approval had been given for 18 biotech plants, such as for rapeseed and soybeans.