Brussels, 17/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - According to an announcement made by the French authorities on Thursday 17 September, France intends to ban the growth of genetically modified varieties of maize on its territory that have already been authorised or are on the point of being authorised in the EU and which have been notified to the European Commission.
In so doing, France is using its opt-out provided by the new EU directive adopted on 2 March last. This provides member states with the opportunity in very specific circumstances to ban or restrict the growth of GMO crops on their territory but which have received authorisation to be cultivated in the EU (see EUROPE 11267).
A joint press release from the two ministries responsible explained: “Ségolène Royal, the Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Energy, and Stéphane Le Foll, the Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Foods and Forestry, decided to ask the Commission to exclude nine GM kinds of maize from their territory which have already been authorised or are currently being authorised at a European level. This decision is totally in keeping with the law of 2 June 2014 banning the cultivation of GM maize on national territory”.
The member states that want to, have until 2 October to notify the Commission of their intention to use their opt-out if they can give one or several justifiable reasons for doing so. (Aminata Niang)