The cultivation of genetically modified plants in the EU is
increasing. In 2007, genetically modified maize was grown on a total of
nearly 110,000 hectares in Spain, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and
Germany. In the previous year, GM plantings comprised 62,000 hectares,
totalling approximately 1 percent of maize cultivation areas.
To date, the only type of GMO grown in the EU is Bt maize. Bt maize
contains a gene from a bacterium that produces a toxin ( Bt-toxin) to defend
it from the European corn borer. An insect pest, the European corn borer
primarily is present in southern and middle Europe, and is slowly making its
way north.

Regions infested with the European corn borer can experience serious
crop losses. Since biological and chemical control methods are expensive and
only partially effective, Bt maize can be a money-saving option for many
farmers despite its higher seed cost.

a.. In Spain, a substantial amount of the maize production is
genetically modified ? it is estimated that 25 percent of the current
production falls under this category. Bt maize was first grown in Spain in
1998, and by 2004 production had risen to 60,000 hectares. In 2007, GM maize
was cultivated on more than 75,000 hectares.
b.. According to official counts, Bt maize production in France
reached 500 hectares in 2005, predominantly in south-western regions. It is
thought that the actual total may have been twice the registered area, since
farmers are known to have brought Bt maize seed from Spain. Five thousand
hectares were planted with Bt maize in 2006. Since 2007, GM cultivations
must be declared in a site register. According to this listing,
approximately 21,200 hectares of Bt maize are cultivated.
c.. Bt maize was first grown in the CzechRepublic in 2005. Total
commercial production covered approximately 270 hectares. In 2007, this area
increased to 5,000 hectares.
d.. Portugal also began producing Bt maize in 2005 on 780 hectares.
In the 2007 season, 4,500 hectares were planted.
e.. Since the 2006 growing season, Bt maize cultivars have full
approval in Germany and are now ready for "normal", commercial cultivation.
All areas must be declared in a site register. In 2006, approximately 950
hectares were cultivated in Germany. One year later, 2,685 hectares have
been registered.
f.. In 2006, 16 Slovakian farmers used Bt maize on an area of just
under 1,00 hectares. In 2007 an area of 900 hectares has been registered.
EU authorisation for commercial agricultural production of GM plants
The cultivation of GM plants is legally possible in all EU countries.
The new EU legislative framework for the approval of genetically modified
feeds and foods now has been enacted in the entire European Union.

However, by use of regulations and decrees that also are now in force,
the cultivation of GM plants has been limited in some member states such as
Germany, Austria and Hungary. Since such regulations by law must be based on
scientifically sound knowledge, the EU Commission consequently has taken
legal action against the national policies of some states.

Approval - Gene Technology law
A total of three GM maize lines ( events Bt176, MON810, T25) were
authorised in 1997/98 for cultivation in the EU. Only MON810 is relevant to
agricultural production.

Approval ? Seed law
Several seeds derived from the MON810 maize are approved in many
countries. Since the beginning of 2007, 51 varieties have been found in the
common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species of the EU.
However, not all of these varieties may be used in all regions. In Germany,
five Bt maize seeds have obtained approval and all of them are derived from
MON810.

Coexistence
It is the responsibility of individual EU Member States to formulate
guidelines for the growing of GM crops. These rules must be designed to
allow the coexistence of genetically modified or conventional agriculture.
National guidelines already exist in several countries.

Except for Bt maize, there are currnetly no GM plants under commercial
cultivation in the EU.


[www.gmo-compass.org]