www.checkbiotech.org ; www.czu.cz ; www.raupp.info

The German government has permitted the first plantings of
genetically-modified wheat for research, it said, November 2006.

Planting of about 1,200 square metres of GMO wheat had been approved at
Gatersieben in Saxony-Anhalt in east Germany on the site of the Leibniz
agricultural research institute, German food safety agency BVL said.

"The BVL has in its safety assessment concluded that the open air
cultivation will not have any damaging impact on humans, animals or the
environment," the BVL said in a statement.

The office had taken into account 30,000 objections from the public when
taking its decision, it said.

The GMO wheat type to be tested has a higher protein level, it said. Germany
and the rest of the European Union already permit commercial cultivation of
GMO maize (corn) and about 955 hectares were cultivated in 2006, including
230 hectares in Saxony-Anhalt.

This year the government also permitted open air experimental cultivation of
GMO barley and potatoes.

Several pressure groups attacked the decision. Nature protection group NABU
called the decision "a clear rejection of risk prevention and consumer
protection." Organic food association Bioland called the decision "a
scandal" and said GMO wheat was an unwanted product.

Although the German public is very safety-conscious about food, the GMO
question is not a major issue in the country.

www.checkbiotech.org

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