Tag: genetically modified organisms

Monsanto has announced it will scrap plans to sell an insect-resistant maize in France, the second move in a week by biotech company to retreat from the genetically modified foods market in Europe.

The European Commission will tomorrow (13 July) propose an overhaul of the EU's policy for approving genetically modified (GM) crops, which will allow countries more freedom to ban cultivation on their territory while retaining an EU-wide authorisation system.

Paris has announced the creation of a "group of friends of the presidency" to consider the EU's GMO authorisation process, which it wants to take better account of "local specificities".

Unless the EU closes the gap between its own GMO-approval system and those of feed-exporting countries such as US, Argentina and Brazil, "hungry cows", "struggling farmers" and trade disputes at the WTO will become commonplace, warned Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

After EU environment ministers failed to agree, the Commission is now being called on to make the final decision on authorising imports of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape.