Press Release: EU will pay farmers who were affected by unauthorised GMOs in rapeseed

On 9.6.00, the Cereals Management Committee of the EU approved a European Commission proposal to allow farmers who had to destroy colza plants containing unauthorised GMOs to receive the payments they are entitled to under existing rules for traditional area payments. This payment is not an emergency aid but a derogation from the existing rules under the arable crops support regime. The crop has to be maintained under normal growth conditions until flowering or until 30.6.00 for the farmers to receive the usual payment. Farmers can now choose to re-sow the plots of land for a new spring crop immediately or to sow later in the year for autumn cereals. In the first case farmers will not be entitled to another payment for the new sowing.