EU agriculture ministers failed to agree on Tuesday on authorising imports of a genetically modified (GMO) maize, again revealing their deep divisions over biotech crops and foods, officials said.
The maize, known by its code number 1507, is jointly made by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a subsidiary of DuPont Co, and Dow AgroSciences unit Mycogen Seeds. Their application is for import and use in food.
Hungary was the only country to change its position from a meeting of EU ambassadors earlier this month, voting against an authorisation after its previous abstention.
The ministers' failure to agree means that the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will very likely rubber-stamp an authorisation in the next month or so.
This is permitted under EU law when ministers are unable to reach a consensus on a GMO approval when there has also been a inconclusive vote by EU-25 national experts.
This happened last month under a different application for the same GMO maize, for use in processing for animal feed.
The 1507 maize type is modified to resist certain insects and herbicides and would not be for cultivation, although Pioneer/Mycogen have also requested this use under a separate application still pending in the EU authorisation process.
"1507 maize has successfully completed the rigorous safety assessment required by EU legislation and brings real benefits to the environment, consumers and the agricultural chain," said Mike Hall, Pioneer's European communications manager.
"This is also the highest number of votes in favour of a biotech dossier at Council (of EU ministers) under the latest EU regulations," he told Reuters.
Despite last year's lifting of an effective biotech moratorium by a legal default procedure, EU countries have not managed to agree by themselves on a GMO approval since 1998.
A minority number of EU countries maintains the power, with its combined voting weight, to block new GMO authorisations.
Luxembourg, Greece and Austria, for example, consistently vote against GMO approvals - and are offset by Britain, Finland and the Netherlands, which almost always vote in favour.
Others countries sit on the fence, or vary their vote according to the product concerned.
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