By Emile Picy and James Mackenzie
The lower house of the French parliament approved a new law on
genetically modified crops on Wednesday after fierce opposition criticism
and internal wrangling in the ranks of the centre-right government.
After a vote of 249 in favour of and 228 against the proposed law,
intended to bring French legislation into line with European Union
directives, the bill will now go to the Senate for a second reading on April
16.

The law is aimed at fixing the conditions under which genetically
modified (GMO) crops may be cultivated in France, where many regard them
with deep suspicion.

Europe has demanded that member states formulate domestic laws on GMO
use since 2001 but France has dragged its feet over an issue that is
fiercely disputed by supporters including the main farmers union and
environmentalist opponents.

The bill that passed the lower house would toughen penalties for
deliberately damaging GMO crops, a favourite tactic of protestors such as
veteran environmentalist Jose Bove, setting fines of 75,000-150,000 euros
with prison terms of two to three years.

Greenpeace denounced the proposed law, which it said would benefit "a
handful of industrialists" and said amendments introduced during the lower
house reading would have no more than a "cosmetic" effect.

As well as strong opposition in parliament from the left wing
Socialists and the Greens, the bill has caused an outbreak of infighting in
the ruling UMP party.

Centre-right deputies attacked junior environment minister Nathalie
Kosciusko-Morizet for allowing an opposition-backed amendment to make it
into the text voted by the lower house.

The amendment would impose strict environment and public health
restrictions on GMO crop cultivation but is likely to be overturned in the
Senate. (Editing by Christian Wiessner)


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