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March 21,
2008
Source:
GMO Compass
In France
the supreme court has rejected a fast track motion by maize
growers and Monsanto to lift the national ban on the cultivation
of the genetically modified maize MON810.
This year,
French farmers will not be allowed to grow genetically modified
maize. The national maize growers association (AGPM) and eight
more plaintiffs including biotech companies Monsanto and Pioneer
failed with their application to annihilate the government's ban
on the only GM maize approved for cultivation in the European
Union, the Bt variety MON810 by Monsanto. The Council of State
dismissed their claim and thereby confirmed the government's
decree, to suspend the approval for cultivation until the
relevant European authorities reviewed the safety of the
transgenic maize. The government had already imposed a
cultivation ban on MON810 in autumn 2007. In early February this
year, a French "High Authority" on biotechnological products has
raised doubts on the safety of the Bt maize variant. It stated
negative effects having an impact on wildlife and the
environment.
The
decision of the Council of State is not final. The judges will
have to look into the scientific justification of the
government's decree. A date is yet to be set. Hearings are
expected within the coming months. However, with the ban still
in force at the end of March, any new decision would come to
late for this year's maize planting season. Already, the maize
growers estimate their financial disprofit at 10 million €,
caused by pests and higher costs for plant protection measures.
According to the AGPM, around 100.000 hectares of MON810 would
have to be grown in France this summer without the ban, while it
were only 22.000 hectares in 2007.
See also on
GMO Compass:
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