EU to 'reflect' on Germany's GM maize ban
(PRAGUE) - Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said Wednesday the European Union would "reflect" on Germany's decision to ban a type of genetically-modified maize produced by US biotech giant Monsanto.
"We will reflect on the issue and we should take the right decision," Dimas said after an informal meeting of EU ministers for the environment in Prague.
On Tuesday, Germany outlawed the cultivation of MON 810 maize -- the only GM crop permitted until now in the country -- on environmental and health grounds.
Germany is the sixth EU country to introduce a provisional ban on MON 810, following similar action taken by France, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg and Greece.
The European Commission sought to force Austria and Hungary to reverse their bans on the crop but its ruling was overturned by a majority of EU nations last month.
A source close to the European Commission told AFP the German ban might bring a revision of the European legislation on GM crops.
Throughout Europe, the public opinion is now against and if the people were asked one more time, "there would be a rejection," the source said on condition of anonymity.
"The spirit has changed, the legislation in a way is operating like an automatic pilot and we have to put some direction in it," the source added.
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