Agriculture ministers from 10 EU countries on Wednesday blocked
approval of three genetically modified varieties of maize for use on the
European market, reflecting continued deep divisions among EU nations over
whether biotech crops pose a risk to human or animal health.
The products had been given the all-clear by the EU's food safety
authority, EFSA, which said they would not have adverse effects on health or
the environment.

Diplomats said Austria, Malta, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece,
Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg voted against, while France and Italy
abstained, ensuring a deadlock. Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden
led the group of biotech crop supporters.

The failure to reach agreement means it will be left to the EU's
executive commission to approve the three products, which it is expected to
do in the coming weeks.

Two of the GM crops were jointly developed and marketed by U.S.
companies Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., a division of Dupont (nyse:
DD - news - people ) Co., and Mycogen Seeds.

Their maize products are designed to resist insects like the corn
rootworm and be tolerant to herbicides. The third maize product, developed
by U.S. biotech firm Monsanto Co. (nyse: MON - news - people ), is also
insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant.

All three products are meant to be used in food and animal feed
production but not used for cultivation in the EU.

The European Commission has been trying to get all EU governments on
side to open up the EU market to more biotech crops, something the United
States, Canada and others have demanded.

The EU ended a six-year moratorium on accepting applications for new
biotech products in May 2004, introducing strict approval procedures and
labeling regulations, but several EU nations remain reluctant to authorize
biotech crops because of public health and environmental concerns.


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