Italy criticizes EU decision on GMO potato
(MILAN) - Italy's agriculture minister Tuesday slammed a decision by the European Commission to allow a genetically modified potato to be grown in Europe and said he was mulling challenging the move.
"We are against the decision taken today by the European Commission to authorise the cultivation of a genetically modified potato," Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia, adding that it risked modifying the sector.
The European Commission on Tuesday gave the first green light to genetically modified foods after 12 years of controversy, authorising the cultivation of a genetically modified potato designed by the German chemical group BASF.
"Not only are we against this decision, but we want to underscore that we will not allow the questioning of member states' sovereignty on this matter. On our part, we will continue to defend and safeguard traditional agriculture and citizens' health," said Zaia.
"We will not allow this ... to compromise our agriculture. Because of this we will evaluate the possibility of promoting a common front among all the countries that want to join us in defence of citizens' health and of the European agriculture," he added.
Zaia is a member of the right-wing Northern League party and a candidate as governor for the wealthy Northern region of Veneto in the regional elections that will take place in late March.
In February, Zaia said he would have opposed in any way possible a decision of Italy's highest administrative court that would have allowed the cultivation of genetically modified maize after a pro-GMO farmers' association complaint.
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