Environment committee backs countries’ right to decide on GM

The environment committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of allowing member states to decide whether genetically modified crops should be grown in their territories.

In a session held on 11 November, the Parliament’s committee discussed a draft legislation put forward by the Council of Ministers in July. This proposal is an attempt to break the de-facto European moratorium on growing GM crops—as under present legislation one national government can veto cultivation in the whole EU.

Under the Parliament’s proposal, countries will be able to ban GM cultivation even if the whole EU agrees to allow it. While France and Germany still feel strongly against the cultivation and commercialisation of these crops, other governments such as the United Kingdom and Spain are thought to be in favour.