EU MEMBER STATES LOSING RIGHT TO BLOCK GM FOODS FROM THEIR TERRITORIES
November 1st, 2007
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A SHIFT in opinion on the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has ended the de facto right of EU member states to block the entry of GM foods and ingredients into their national territories. Governments such as Greece and Austria have exercised bans, even for foods and ingredients with EU-wide marketing approvals. Until now, the council has backed them - over Commission objections. But last month (Oct), the council did not back Austria's national ban on GM maize, allowing the Commission to scrap it, if it chooses.
ENDS
A SHIFT in opinion on the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has ended the de facto right of EU member states to block the entry of GM foods and ingredients into their national territories. Governments such as Greece and Austria have exercised bans, even for foods and ingredients with EU-wide marketing approvals. Until now, the council has backed them - over Commission objections. But last month (Oct), the council did not back Austria's national ban on GM maize, allowing the Commission to scrap it, if it chooses.
ENDS
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