EU to overhaul GM crop approval system

EurActiv and Friends of the Earth Europe report that the European Commission would propose an overhaul of its approval system for genetically modified (GM) crops in July 2010. If adopted, this would open the way to large-scale GM cultivation in Europe, although individual EU Member States will still be able to maintain bans on GM cultivation.

Friends of the Earth Europe: Press Release, 4.6.10: Europe to change rules on growing genetically modified crops http://foeeurope.org/press/2010/Jun04_Europe_to_change_rules_on_growing_genetically_modified_crops.html

European Commission: DG Health and Consumers: Overview: Food and Feed Safety: Genetically Modified Food and Feed http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm

Le Monde, 10.6.10: EU puts GM crops on the menu (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/270781-eu-puts-gm-crops-menu

EuropaBio: The European Association for Bioindustries http://www.europabio.org/

EuropaBio: Europabio Statement on The Commission’s Proposals to Nationalise the Approval of GM crops for EU Cultivation, July 2010 http://www.europabio.org/positions/GBE/EuropaBio%20statement%20on%20DG%20SANCO%20Proposal.pdf

EurActiv, 12.7.10: EU wants to put GMO dispute to an end http://www.euractiv.com/en/cap/%20EU-wants-GMO-dispute-to-end-news-496059

Blog: Brian Gardner's Blog, 19.7.10: Commission abandon's GM regulation http://briangardner.blogactiv.eu/2010/07/19/commission-abandons-gm-regulation/

Website: SCIMAC http://www.scimac.org.uk/

ESO: Background information: EU weighs proposals to break GMO deadlock http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-weighs-proposals-to-break-gmo-deadlock/

---