October 1, 2007

EU ministers block GM corn entry

Agriculture ministers from ten countries in the European Union have rejected the approval of three genetically modified varieties of corn for use on the European market.

The products, however, have been cleared by the region's food safety authority, European Food Safety Agency, stating the biotech products do not have adverse effects on health or the environment.

Diplomats said Austria, Malta, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg voted against, while France and Italy abstained, ensuring a deadlock. Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden led the group of biotech crop supporters.

The decision reflects divisions among EU nations whether biotech crops pose a risk to human or animal health.

The failure to reach agreement means it will be left to the EU's executive commission to approve the three products, which it is expected to do in the coming weeks.

The three varieties are produced from Pioneer Hi-Bred and Monsanto and are genetically modified to resist the corn rootworm and be tolerant to herbicides.

All three products are meant to be used in food and animal feed production but not used for cultivation in the EU.