Brussels, 09/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a communication, MEP Marie-Hélène Aubert has drawn attention to the importance of the meeting of the Convention on Biodiversity which is being held from 7 to 11 February in Hong Kong at the initiative of the United Nations to “decide if the global moratorium on the use of “sterile” GM seed is acceptable or not”. The French Green MEP, who noted that “at the moment, Canada is proposing to end the moratorium and to authorise trials and growing of this sterile seed”, is calling for the European Commission delegation participating in the work in Hong Kong to “oppose any kind of international initiative which aims to encourage free movement, trials and growing of sterile seed, anywhere”. Ms Aubert warns: trials and growing of sterile seed are “politically unacceptable because they disturb the normal way in which nature works, encourage seed patenting and piracy and prevent people in developing countries from using their own genetic resources for agriculture and food”. (See EUROPE of 8 February, p.12 and 13, on the charter adopted in Florence by 20 “GM-free” European regions).