[align=left]EU Commission rejects Greek ban on Monsanto biotech corn type[/align]

Associated Press | January 10, 2006

The European Union's executive arm drew criticism from environmentalists Tuesday by overruling a Greek ban on a variety of genetically modified corn seed developed by the U.S. biotech giant Monsanto Co.

"The European Commission cannot continue to ignore the number of countries and regions that want to ban genetically modified foods and crops," said Adrian Bebb, of Friends of the Earth. "It is time the European Commission supported these bans instead of supporting the biotech industry."

The commission said the Greek prohibition of the MON810 seed types was not warranted on health or safety grounds following the biotech seed's approval for sale across the EU in September 2004.

The EU ended a six-year moratorium on accepting applications for new biotech products in May 2004, under strict approval procedures and labeling regulations. However, several EU nations remain reluctant to authorize biotech crops because of public health and environmental concerns.

In April, Greece said it would ban the cultivation of MON810 seeds in 2005-2006 despite the commission's decision to approve them.

Under EU rules, the commission has powers to overturn the Greek ban, because Athens failed to muster sufficient backing from the other 24 EU nations to secure a vote of support.
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