European states accused of "flouting" WTO rules by banning genetically-modified crops on Thursday rejected EU moves to speed new authorisations. A plan by the European Commission to allow states to decide individually whether to ban the cultivation of crops, albeit staying within WTO rules governing the movement of GM products, was torn to shreds by leading GM opponents, France, Germany and others.
"Let me be very clear, in France we refuse even to enter into this discussion," said France's Chantal Jouanno during talks between European Union environment ministers in Luxembourg. She said the plan failed to deliver adequate assessments of the impact of GM agriculture on the environment, on human health, or on other socio-economic needs.
Paris wants strengthened scientific assessments amid accusations that some officials in EU agencies were too close to the GM industry. Europe has got itself into a bind on GM, with two crops currently authorised - a maize strain for animal feed and a potato for paper-making - but decisions on another 15 are caught up in deadlock. Countries and regions have subsequently banned cultivation unilaterally, or declared themselves GM-free, with products containing traces blocked at ports, which the commission says risks breaching WTO guidelines.
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