EU environment ministers meeting in Paris have agreed to establish an ad hoc
committee to evaluate the research on genetically modified organisms (GMO),
French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said Friday in Paris.
The objective of the committee would be to evaluate the effectiveness of
research on the long-term effects of GMOs, the transparency of the research
and on whether non-governmental groups have been sufficiently involved in
that research, Borloo said at an informal meeting of EU environment
ministers in Paris.

Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursik told journalists that because "70
per cent of European citizens want to consume GMO-free foodstuffs," Europe
must consider altering its GMO policy.

The committee will also study the demands of several EU members to create
GMO-free areas or even to be designated as GMO-free countries.

"We want to make rapid progress, because citizens expect it, and our demands
are high," French Junior Minister for the Environment Nathalie
Kosciusko-Morizet said in a statement.

A decision on a new EU policy on GMOs is to be taken at the summit meeting
of EU environment ministers in December, she said.

www.checkbiotech.org