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

Resistance to genetically modified crops in Europe was underlined when EU
governments rejected an attempt to force Hungary to lift a ban on them,
February 2007 by Andrew Bounds.

Only the UK, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden among the 27 members voted
that Budapest should allow in bio-engineered maize, although it has been
approved as safe by food safety authorities.

Last year ministers permitted Austria to maintain a ban on the same product,
MON810, which contains a toxin to kill pests and was created by Monsanto,
the US group.

The entry of GM-friendly Bulgaria and Romania into the EU was thought to
have tipped the balance but countries such as Romania and Spain, although
they have planted tens of thousands of hectares of GM crops, voted against
on grounds of sovereignty.

"It is a bad day for farmers and a bad day for science," said Simon Barber,
of Europabio, which represents the biotech industry. "Ministers are refusing
to implement the law they drew up."

Under a 2001 directive, the European Food Safety Agency has the
responsibility to assess and approve applications to import or cultivate GM
crops. The European Commission then asks national governments to approve
them.

The decision will infuriate the US, which with Canada and Argentina won a
case against the EU at the World Trade Organisation.

The EU claims that it has ended the moratorium that was deemed illegal by
Geneva, but in practice no new crops have been approved for cultivation
since. Only a handful can be grown and not many more imported for animal
feed and processing, amid continuing suspicion among the public.

Green groups welcomed the vote. "Ministers took a bold decision today in
defence of the environment and in line with European public opinion," said
Marco Contiero of Greenpeace.

A European Commission spokeswoman said it would now examine its options. It
could launch legal action or drop the effort to end Hungary and Austria's
bans altogether.

"We have to acknowledge a political dimension," she said. "If people will
not buy GMOs because of even the smallest doubt we have to make sure we
eliminate that doubt."

[www.ft.com]