Austria bans cultivation of genetically manipulated corn

Austria bans the two genetically manipulated (GV-) maize sorts MON 810 and T25, that are already approved by the EU. The European Commission suggested this tuesday at Brussels to remove the national ban for GV-corn. It isn't sure if the Commission will succeed, because in 2007 the EU-environment council of ministers has already disapproved with a qualified majority the decision against Austria. The country invokes a protection article in the European genetic engineering legislation. National solo's are allowed if the EU country presents new scientifically prooved knowledge about the risks. The Commission supports the sentence of the European food authority regarding the two GV-maize sorts, they believe that MON 810 and T25 are secure, after verifying documentation from Austria. Austria argues against it, because of its national structure with many small factories. This structure makes a co-existence more difficult, together genetically manipulated organism (GVO) and conventional seeds can not exist. Also in France, Hungary and Greece GV-maize sorts with a EU certification are nationally banned. EU Commission fights against them as well.

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