France imposes planting ban on GM corn

France published a stopgap decree on Monday to prevent the planting of genetically modified corn, while the government works on changes to domestic and European laws to ensure a longer-term ban.

The French government, which says GM crops present environmental risks, has been trying to institute a new ban on GM corn after a high court twice struck down similar previous measures.

France also suffered a setback in the European Union last week when member states failed to agree on whether to approve a new GM corn strain, leaving the way open to the EU Commission to approve the variety for cultivation.

The government said its decree will come into force after a three-week consultation period that runs to March 9. Annual sowing of corn in France gets underway in the second half of March.

Monday's move was timed to avert any sowing of GM corn by farmers before a draft French law banning planting of genetically modified organisms is expected to be voted in April.

"This will prevent there being a period during which GM corn could be sown," a farm ministry spokesman said.

The French Senate started debating the proposed domestic law on Monday.

The current Socialist government, like its conservative predecessor, has opposed the growing of GM crops in view of public suspicion and widespread protests from environmentalists.

Only one GM variety is currently authorized for cultivation in the European Union - Monsanto's MON810 insect-resistant corn. A GM potato was cleared by the European Commission but later blocked by a court.

Longstanding differences between EU countries resurfaced last week when they failed to secure a majority either for or against the approval of another corn variety, Pioneer 1507, developed jointly by DuPont and Dow Chemical. France is now trying to win support to overhaul EU rules.

It was one of 12 countries to sign a letter last week warning the Commission against approving Pioneer 1507. France is also trying to reach a common position with Germany ahead of a joint Cabinet meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

"We need to give a legal framework to those countries that do not wish to see GM corn grown," French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll told France Inter radio on Sunday.

(China Daily 02/19/2014 page11)