France's largest farm union, FNSEA, urged farmers to refrain from
buying genetically modified (GMO) seeds based on U.S. giant Monsanto
technology ahead of a biotech law expected in February.
After an environmental policy conference in October, French President
Nicolas Sarkozy said he would draft a new law on GMOs, notably on how
farmers may grow the only GMO crop allowed in France, an insect-resistant
maize developed by Monsanto.

The new law, due to launch a "high authority" on GMOs, requiring
farmers to declare their GMO plantings and making them financially liable
for any contamination, was sent last week to the Council of State and is due
to be adopted by Feb. 9.


The Council of State vets French laws to ensure they conform with the
constitution."In response to (the government's) willingness to do the right
thing well and clarify matters, the FNSEA is asking farmers not to buy MON
810 GMO seeds before Feb. 9, 2008, when the parliamentary session is due to
end and the vote on the bill," the union said in a statement.


Sarkozy suspended the planting of GMO pest-resistant crops late
October until the results of a review by the new authority on GMOs. The ban
did not affect maize production in France as sowings do not take place until
spring.


Other maize seed makers use Monsanto's technology, which is designed
to resist the European corn borer, a pest that attacks maize stalks and
thrives in warmer climates in southern EU countries.


Monsanto says the protein contained in its maize has selective
toxicity but is harmless to humans, fish and wildlife.


Just 22,000 hectares -- 1.5 percent of France's cultivated maize
land -- have been sown with GMO maize this year but some farmers have urged
greater use of GMO crops to boost yields.
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