EU authorises Monsanto GMO maize for import
BELGIUM: October 28, 2004

BRUSSELS - The European Union authorised imports of a genetically modified (GMO) maize made by world biotech pioneer Monsanto (MON.N: Quote, Profile, Research) this week, its second approval since lifting a five-year ban on new GMOs, officials said.
"It is adopted, there were no problems," an official at the European Commision, the EU's executive arm, told Reuters. The Commission used a legal default procedure that kicks in after months of deadlock between EU governments to issue an approval for a Roundup Ready maize type known as NK603.
The maize has been modified to resist the herbicide glyphosate to allow farmers to manage weeds better. When imported, it will be used to make products such as starch, oil, maize gluten feed and maize meal, and for use in animal feed.
Tuesday's approval is the EU's second after the 25-nation bloc restarted new GMO authorisations in mid-May and put an end to a longstanding moratorium on new biotech imports that had angered major trading partners such as the United States. That happened when the Commission cleared the sale of a tinned biotech sweet maize known as Bt-11, made by Swiss firm Syngenta (SYNN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) , using its own powers to permit imports.
Under the EU's complex decision-making process, if EU member states fail to agree after three months at ministerial level on allowing a new GMO into the bloc, then the Commission may rubberstamp an authorisation.
GREENS ANGRY
European consumers remain largely hostile to biotech foods with opposition rated at more than 70 percent. Supermarkets and food manufacturers have responded to this and still tend to avoid stocking produce that contains GMOs.
Green groups were angered by the decision, made by the current EU executive in its last week in office.
"This is a shameful final act by the outgoing European Commission," said Geert Ritsema, GMO campaigner at environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth Europe, in a statement.
"Despite scientific disagreements over its safety and huge public rejection the Commission decided instead to put the interests of corporate America before the safety of Europeans."
Diplomats say the Commission may well open the door to more GMO imports over the next 12 months despite deep divisions among the EU's 25 member states over the whole issue of biotechnology.
The EU's quirky process for taking decisions means the rifts among national governments make it easy for the Commission to apply the rubber stamp to GMO applications, they say.
Story by Jeremy Smith
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE