Biotech Updates

New EU Regulation for Genetically Modified Plants

June 11, 2010

The European Commission will be making a decision on the new regulation for genetically modified plants. The regulation will allow EU Member States to decide on whether or not they will allow cultivation of approved genetically modified plants in their country. With this regulation, Member States such as Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden or the Netherlands could plant more GM plants and countries that oppose the technology could declare their countries as such.

EU Commission's president José Manuel Barroso had indicated in summer 2009 the separation of the decision-making authority for GM plants between the EU Commission and the individual Member States. Through this, the political blockade in decision making that has previously prevented clear and comprehensible decisions to the public could be overcome. This regulation is however met with skeptism and split opinions among the Member States supporters and non-supporters of GM crops.

Details of this news can be viewed at http://www.gmo-safety.eu/news/1182.makes-decision-approval-countries-cultivation.html