Brussels, 15/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Germany is now one of a group of six EU member states banning crops of the genetically modified MON 810 maize by Monsanto - a GMO legally authorised in the EU on the basis of scientific opinions delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner announced on Tuesday 14 April that her government had decided to use the safeguard clause to suspend crops of the GMO. The decision was taken “in the interests of the environment,” she stated.
Five other member states (Austria since 1999, Hungary since 2005, Greece, France and Luxembourg) had already taken measures similar to those employed by Germany. After a series of consecutive failed attempts, the European Commission's chances of finding a qualified majority among member states supporting its request to have these safeguard measures repealed so that Community legislation can be respected are further becoming slimmer.
A shift in Germany's position emerged at the Environment Council on 2 March, when the German delegation voted against lifting Austrian and Hungarian safeguard measures on crops of this same maize. It was by a large majority that the Council resisted the Commission, with 22 member states refusing to force Austria and Hungary to fall into line (see EUROPE 9852). The Council will soon be required to come to a decision on the French and Greek measures.
When asked, on Tuesday 14 April, for her reaction to the German measure, a Commission spokeswoman replied simply: “The Commission will study the ban put in place by Germany and all the data submitted”.
Commissioner Stavros Dimas, when asked, on the sidelines of the informal environment ministers' meeting in Prague on Wednesday 15 April, for his reaction, said that the German decision would cause the European Commission to “reflect” on the GMO issue. “We will reflect on this issue in order to reach the right decision,” he said, hinting that an amendment to the legislation might even be considered. (A.N./transl.rt)