EU Tells Greece to Lift Ban on Monsanto Maize Seeds
Date: 11-Jan-06
Country: BELGIUM
Author: Jeremy Smith
"It has been adopted (by the Commission), an order to lift the ban," one official told Reuters.
In September 2004, the EU authorised 17 different seed strains of Monsanto maize from a parent crop known as MON 810 for planting and sale across EU territory, flying in the face of widespread consumer resistance to GMO crops and foods.
The parent maize, engineered to resist certain insect pests, won approval for growing just before the EU began its biotech ban in 1998 that lasted nearly six years. Before this, these seeds only had national authorisations from France and Spain.
EU law provides for countries to decide whether to allow such seeds on national territory - although a ban must be approved by EU member states to be legal. Greece used this provision in early 2005, notifying the Commission of its ban on the 17 maize seed types for the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons.
The Commission acquired the legal power to order Greece to lifts its GMO seed ban after EU farm ministers failed to reach a consensus view on the matter at a meeting in October. In such cases, the Commission may adopt its own proposed decision.
Greece, which consistently votes against proposals for new GMO authorisations in the EU, may still appeal against the order at the European Court of Justice, the bloc's highest court.
Greek farmers' union (GESASE) said it would send a letter to Greek Agriculture Minister Evangelos Basiakos later on Tuesday, urging him to file an appeal at the Luxembourg-based court.
"This will be a first-class opportunity for the government which says it opposes genetically modified products to prove it," GESASE financial advisor Nikos Lapas told Reuters.
"The government says it opposes genetically modified products and it will make a much stronger point taking this case to court than just saying it opposes them in an EU ministers' meeting," Lapas said.
Previously, the Commission had said it does not find that Greece had sufficient reasons, on health or safety grounds, to ban the Monsanto seeds - especially as EU scientists had already assessed MON 810 as safe for human health.
It also says Greece did not supply the necessary scientific information to Brussels to support its ban, as EU law requires.
"The European Commission cannot continue to ignore the number of countries and regions that want to ban genetically modified foods and crops," said Adrian Bebb, GMO campaigner at environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth.
"It is time the European Commission supported these bans instead of supporting the biotech industry," he said.
(additional reporting by Angeliki Koutantou and Karolos Grohmann in Athens)
