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GMO votes: Commission fails to get EU countries' support
Brussels, 16 February - Experts from Europe's 27 member states today
failed to agree whether France and Greece should be forced to drop
national bans on the growing of genetically modified (GM) crops. [1]
Both countries have banned the only GM crop authorised for cultivation
in the European Union - Monsanto’s GM maize, MON 810. Last month the
European Commission issued a proposal for the bans to be overturned.
Helen Holder, European GMO campaign coordinator at Friends of the Earth
Europe said: "Today's vote just confirms how inappropriate it is of the
Commission to try and force these countries to drop their bans. In
December 2008, all twenty seven EU Environment Ministers unanimously
concluded that there are weaknesses in the GMO approval process, and
that risk assessment requirements are not being met. [2]
"The genetically modified maize being voted on today is currently being
re-appraised at EU level. It is nonsensical for the European Commission
to try and force countries to drop their bans whilst this assessment is
still underway. This kind of GM crop is highly controversial – its
impacts on health, the environment and farming are unclear."
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For more information, please contact:
Helen Holder, Coordinator of tthe Friends of the Earth Europe GMOs campaign:
Tel: +32 2893 1029 and +32 474 857638 (Belgian mobile)
Francesca Gater, Communications Officer for Friends of the Earth Europe:
Tel: +32 2893 1010 and +32 485 930515 (Belgian mobile)
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Today's vote at the Regulatory Committee was a ‘non qualified
majority’ vote. Under EU decision making rules, weighted voting means
that a minimum number of votes is needed for a decision to be taken. The
failure to reach the minimum level of agreement today means the
Commission’s proposals that the two national bans be dropped will be
transferred to an upcoming EU Environment or Agriculture Council for
Ministers to vote on.
[2] Conclusions of the EU Environment Council, December 4th 2008
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and fair societies and for the protection of the environment,
unites more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups
and is part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International.
