Brussels wants GM ban lifted
BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union’s head office yesterday asked five EU governments, including Athens, to lift bans on a range of biotech crops that have been cleared by the bloc’s food safety agency. The European Commission called on Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Greece to end their national bans, which altogether affect three types of corn and two varieties of oilseed. The EU ended a six-year moratorium on accepting applications for new genetically modified foods in May 2004, but several member states remain reluctant to authorize GM crops due to public health and environment concerns. Regarding Greece, Brussels wants restrictions lifted on the banned oilseed Topas 19/2. Governments have just over three months to lift the bans or run the risk of legal action from the Commission.
