The European Union authorised imports of a genetically modified (GMO) maize on Monday, the third GMO product to win approval since the EU ended its unofficial biotech ban last year, officials said.
US biotech giant Monsanto to resist the corn rootworm insect engineers the maize, known as MON 863.
In theory, the maize may now be sold across EU territory for processing into animal feed not for growing but will have to receive a second EU approval for use in food before shipments can start.
This might take another month, officials said. The decision taken by the European Commission was permitted under a legal default procedure that kicks in after national governments are unable to agree among themselves.
The last chance that the 25-nation bloc had to reach a majority agreement was in late June at a meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg.
EU sets B-sugar production levy at maximum 37.5 pc
The European Union has fixed the production levy for "B" quota beet sugar for 2005/06 at its maximum of 37.5 percent, the Official Journal said on Monday.
The "B" quota levy on sugar producers finances the subsidies for EU exports to the world market, where prices are far lower than the EU's internal prices.
It may be re-adjusted during the year if sugar producers are paying too much in advance payments. The duty is set at the start of each season at 30 percent of the EU's sugar intervention price, currently set at 63.19 euros per 100 kg for most of the EU's 25 member states.
Slightly higher prices apply to five "production deficit" states. The EU's new 2003/04-sugar season opened on August 1.
To compensate for the extra funds coming from the levy increase, the EU also imposed a reduction in the minimum price for "B" quota beet to 28.84 euros per tonne from the 32.42 euros that producers receive from Brussels at present.
Production levies are charged as part of a self-financing programme that allows the European Union to recoup the cost of export subsidies for quota sugar exports to the world market.