European Union press release

Outcome of Agriculture/Fisheries Council of July 2004 - Putting on the market of the GM maize NK603

Ministers did not approve nor reject with qualified majority the application of putting on the market the GM maize NK603. Ministers were asked to approve its authorisation for the use as food after a thorough scientific assessment has confirmed that the modified maize would be as safe as conventional maize. Following the legislative procedure foreseen in such cases it will now be for the European Commission to approve the authorisation in the autumn.

Brussels, Belgium
July 19, 2004
Paul Geitner
Associated Press via Agnet 20/04

European Union governments deadlock on biotech corn issue

European Union governments, according to this story, deadlocked Monday on an application to allow imports of a herbicide-resistant corn for human consumption, but the bloc's executive body [the European Commission] approved the same product's use for animal feed (see European Commission authorises import of GM-maize NK603 for use in animal feed).

The story says that the opposing decisions reflect continuing divisions on genetically modified crops, despite the lifting last spring of Europe's de facto moratorium on new products.

Officials were cited as saying that EU agriculture ministers failed to get a majority for or against allowing Monsanto Co.'s Roundup Ready corn, which is widely grown in the United States and elsewhere, to be imported for food or food ingredients.

Roundup Ready corn, which is engineered to resist the U.S. company's Roundup herbicide, received a clean bill of health from the European Food Safety Authority last year.

EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, who backed the application, was quoted as saying, "Its safety is, therefore, not in question, and neither is the question of user or consumer choice."

Nine EU countries -- Latvia, Denmark, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Greece, Austria, Portugal and Luxembourg -- voted against the license. Nine others -- Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Britain -- voted in favor.

Hungary, Slovenia, Germany and Spain abstained, while Estonia and Poland expressed no view.

Environment ministers split along similar lines last month when considering Roundup Ready corn imports for animal feed.