The European Commission this week postponed a decision on whether to authorise the use of a new genetically-modified strain of maize developed by Ciba-Geigy

Date: 14/11/1996

Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard said the three scientific committees asked to investigate the product's safety had been unable to reach a definitive opinion. The Commission will now come back to the issue in December. The delay raises the spectre of renewed tension with the US, which is due to begin exports of maize, including some genetically-modified seeds, in the next few weeks. “The Commission still has to look at the trade implications of the situation and its impact on a large number of products containing maize,” said Bjerregaard.