25/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - Germany preparing to use its à la carte cultivation opt-out. Germany is preparing to use it opt-out right in order to ban the cultivation of EU-authorised GMOs on its territory. According to Reuters, Germany's Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt has informed German state governments of his intention to tell the EU that Germany will make use of the opt-out rules that the new EU directive on à la carte GMO cultivation (adopted on 2 March - see EUROPE 11267) gives all member states. Member states that so want have until 2 October to notify the European Commission of their intention, giving one or several justifiable reasons. Scotland intends to ban GMO cultivation totally, but in order to formalise this choice with the Commission it will have to go through the British government which is known to support GMO cultivation. (AN)