By Liz Rusbridger and Robert Woodward
More than 3 million Italians have signed a petition calling for Italy
to ban all genetically modified foods, an alliance of food producers,
consumers and environmental groups said.
Campaigners collected signatures at marketplaces and food fairs across
the country over the last few months and hope the government will respond by
banning all imports and cultivation of what they consider "Frankenstein
foods."

"We gathered 3,086,524 votes, of which 3,068,958 (99.43%) were in
favor of banning GMOs and 17,566 (0.57%) said no," said a spokesman for the
campaign group "Italy Europe - Free from Genetic Modification."

Italy does not allow the cultivation of GM plants but imports GMOs as
animal feed. European consumers have expressed concern that
genetically-modified crops might increase health risks, or pose threats to
the natural environment.

Two weeks ago, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would suspend
cultivation of GMOs, part of Europe's continued skepticism towards crops
that have been genetically altered, for example to enhance yields or make
them resistant to pesticides.

The petition invited Italians to sign forms designed to resemble
ballot papers, asking them to answer "yes" or "no" to whether food
production should be "genuine ... founded on biodiversity and free from
GMOs."

The EU's resistance to GMOs over recent years has caused trade
disputes with major grain exporters, like the United States, which believe
Europe has used consumer concerns over the technology as an excuse to block
trade.

[www.reuters.com]