Five EU states win right to keep ban on modified crops

Genetically modified organisms will be kept out of five European Union Member States after a proposal to force states to open their markets to such products was defeated 24 June 2005. The European Commission put forward the proposal under pressure from the World Trade Organisation, because the US and other suppliers of genetically modified foodstuffs had complained that the refusal of some EU member states to open their markets to the products was an unfair restriction on trade. Austria, France, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg have bans on certain forms of genetically modified crops.

Syngenta: Press Release, 24.6.05: Statement on EU Member States decision not to lift GM bans http://syngenta.com.ph/en/media/pdf/mediareleases/en/240605_statement_bt176.pdf

Friends of the Earth: Press Release, 24.6.05: EU Ministers vote to keep GM food bans http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/eu_ministers_vote_to_keep_24062005.html

European Commission: Press Release: IP/05/793: GMOs: Commission reaction on Council votes on safeguards and GM maize MON863 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/793&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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