France will uphold a ban on genetically modified crops as President Francois Hollande pushes his plan to put the environment back at the top of the international agenda.
The ban targets corn produced by the multinational conglomerate Monsanto, the maker of the only genetically modified organism currently allowed for cultivation in Europe.
Monsanto markets MON 810 maize, under the trade name Yield Guard, as being resistant to insects and other pests that threaten harvests.
Every country in the EU reserves the right to legislate on whether or not to ban genetically modified (GM) crops.
The European Court of Justice has been in disagreement with the French government over its decision after the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) concluded back in 2008 “that no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health or the environment, was provided that would justify the invocation of a safeguard clause,” referring to a potential ban.
View the original article here: French Prime Minister maintains ban on GM crops
