By James Mackenzie

France's constitutional council approved the main points of a law on
genetically modified crops on Thursday after opposition Socialists had
demanded a review.
The Socialists and environmentalists said the bill blurred the line between
natural and genetically modified organisms (GMO) but the constitutional
council ruled that it conformed with the constitution.

"The law, which provides for a preliminary system of authorisation for GMOs
and makes their cultivation subject to evaluation, surveillance and control
procedures does not fail to respect the principle of precaution when it
allows coexistence of GMO and non-GMO crops," it said in a statement.

The Socialists and environmental campaigners had sought a complete overhaul
of the law, which they say is too favourable to the interests of biotech
companies such as U.S. giant Monsanto.

The council ordered the government to amend one article concerning the types
of information an applicant for a licence would have to provide.

But the environment ministry said that would not stop the law, passed
earlier this year after a tumultuous passage through parliament, from coming
into force before the end of the year.

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