A general ban is not possible" for an EU state or region, said Barbara
Helfferich, spokeswoman for EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.
Without being drawn on the plans being drawn up in Paris, she said "we
would have to look at the exact details of the proposition."

The French newspaper Le Monde reported Thursday that France was
planning a freeze on GM crops, which cover less than one percent of farmland
in Europe's top agricultural producer.

According to the paper, the government is preparing to announce a halt
to sales of GM seeds at a national conference on the environment taking
place next month, involving farmers, business and advocacy groups.

French cereal farmers accused their government of "caving in" to
public opinion, which is extremely hostile to GM crops, an issue kept in the
headlines by high-profile anti-GM activists such as the farmer Jose Bove.

The French government on Friday said that no decision had been taken
on the matter.
[www.france24.com]