Countries can opt-out of approved GM crops, says EU

The European Union has given member states the option of banning use of genetically modified (GM) crops despite the approval for cultivation by the 28-nation bloc’s food safety authority.

While environmental campaigners approved of the deal, saying that it was an improvement on the current regime, representatives of the GM industry have criticised it.

According to the new decision that has been agreed upon by the European Parliament and member states, national governments will have the final say in the matter, which is seen as a countermove to many EU initiatives that traditionally seek a common stance on EU policies.

GM crops are rare in Europe but are common in the Americas and Asia. Europe has a divided opinion with countries such as France and Germany opposing it. However, Britain is in favour of such crops.

Although the measure still needs final approval from the parliament and member states over the coming weeks, EU officials said that no longer poses a substantial problem after Thursday’s agreement.

The Associated Press reported: "Under the broad agreement, member states will have to get a special opt-out for every GM crop they seek to ban. Other member states must make sure that pollen or seeds do not inadvertently drift into nations that ban them."

An earlier attempt to reach a compromise on GM cultivation in 2012 had failed as EU ministers had been unable to agree.

Reuters quoted food safety spokesperson Bart Staes who is a representative of the Green group in the European Parliament as saying that the deal was not robust enough and risked ‘finally opening the door to genetically-modified organisms across Europe, in spite of citizens’ clear opposition’.

Only two GM crops have been approved for commercial cultivation by EU authorities to date, with one a starchy potato that was later blocked by a court.

Currently, the only GM crop to be still in use in EU is Monsanto’s GM maize MON810, which is cultivated in Spain and Portugal.