EU upholds Austria, Hungary right to ban GM crops

EU environment ministers gave a stinging rebuff to the European Commission on Monday and upheld the sovereign right of Austria and Hungary to ban growing of genetically modified (GM) maize, the EU presidency said.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, had wanted the ministers to order both countries to lift the bans within 20 days. EU law provides for national GMO bans under certain circumstances if the government can justify the prohibition. It was the third time the Commission had tried to get Austria's bans lifted and the second for Hungary. All the attempts have been rejected by ministers in the past.

Hungary's ban relates to MON 810 maize, developed and marketed by U.S. biotech company Monsanto and the only GM crop that may be commercially grown in the EU. Austria has also banned cultivation of MON 810 maize, as well as that of T25 maize, made by German drugs and chemicals group Bayer .


Source: uk.reuters.com

Publication date: 3/3/2009