Compromise by pro- and anti-GMO countries opens door to GM crop cultivation in European Union

An unholy alliance of pro- and anti-GMO countries have struck a deal that will sweep away the obstacles to genetically engineered crops in the EU. By allowing – under limited circumstance – individual member states to prohibit the growing of GMO crops on their territory, the European Commission expects to boost GMO cropping in the EU overall. An indicative vote of Member State representatives taken in a closed meeting this week indicated near unanimous support for the proposal which is being promoted by Greece – the current holders of the EU Presidency.

The significance of this move is that it breaks the political stalemate that has largely prevented GMO crops from being grown in the EU. The proposal is based on the deceit that both pro- and anti-GMO countries can have want they want, and the unity of the EU Single Market can remain intact.

Pro -GMO Britain hopes it will allow for more rapid approval of GM crops in the EU: “This proposal should help unblock the dysfunctional EU process for approving GM crops for cultivation”, said UK Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. Anti-GMO France welcomed the deal as “good news”. It has recently imposed a domestic ban on GMO maize (corn).

The EU’s Green Parties say it is a “misleading proposal” which only“pretends to give Member States more freedom to ban GMOs on their territory. With a very weak premise and legal grounds, the proposal may in fact be instrumental allowing numerous new GMO crops for cultivation in the EU.” The GM industry is also unhappy with the deal. They say it could allow crops to be banned on “non-scientific grounds” and undermines the Single Market.

Read the full, original article: Deceitful compromise clears the way for GMO crops in Europe

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