Germany Passes Strict Rules on GM Crop Cultivation
GERMANY: November 29, 2004

BERLIN - The German parliament on Friday passed a controversial law laying down strict rules on the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) plants, winning praise from environmental groups but drawing complaints from farmers and biotech companies.

The law, set to take effect January 1, includes provisions making farmers using GM plants legally responsible for the contamination of non-GM crops and obliging them to enter all land used for GM cultivation in a public register.

The law comes after the European Union agreed to lift a long-standing moratorium on GM crops.

Opponents of the bill, including the farmers' union (DBV), argue the rules will hinder vital research and innovation. The government and environmental groups such as Greenpeace say the law was necessary to protect consumers and farmers. Agriculture Minister Renate Kuenast, a member of the environmentalist Greens who is also responisible for consumer protection, said she was pleased "clarity" had been created for households and farmers. "In a timely way, the law provides....legal clarity and planning security in the farming industry," she added.

In a statement, the DBV said: "The result of the GM law will be that research and development are neglected which are necessary to assess in an objective way the advantages and disadvantages of this green genetic technology."

The GM bill was blocked in the upper house but passed with a government majority in the lower chamber.

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE