FOCUS-France delays okay of Novartis genetic maize
RTw 25.09.98 18:39
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PARIS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - France's highest administrative court delayed on Friday an
authorisation given to Novartis Seeds to market genetically modified maize in France.
The decision by the Council of State, in response to a request by Greenpeace France, was
taken on the basis of procedural irregularities rather than on safety grounds but
nonetheless elicited cheers from foes of biotechnology.
Novartis officials said they took the decision in their stride and remained confident that
the initial government decision clearing the strains for cultivation would be eventually
confirmed.
"We regret this decision," said Christian Morin, Communications Director for
Novartis Seeds Europe.
"We remain confident...on substantive issues there will be a confirmation," he
said.
Greenpeace urged France to ensure Novartis maize planted last spring and due to be
harvested in autumn would be destroyed so that it will not enter the food chain.
"We are asking the French government to suspend its authorisation on Novartis
genetically-modified maize and immediately withdraw (the maize) from the fields prevent it
from entering the food chain," Greenpeace said in a statement.
It said 1,500 hectares had been sown with gene-maize in France in 1998.
"Today, consumers, environmental groups, farmers and many citizens do not want
genetically modified organisms," said the environmental group Agir pour l'Environment
in a statement.
"The Council of State is only responding to the demands of the people. The government
must now follow suit and put in place a moratorium on all genetically modified organisms
including the corn approved on July 31," the group said.
The Council said in a statement it was postponing the implementation of a ministerial
decision to allow the sale of the seeds until the outcome of another legal procedure on
the principles of the decision, expected in early December.
France authorised its farmers to grow gene-altered maize developped by Swiss firm Novartis
in November 1997 but postponed decisions on other maize varieties and crops until after a
public debate it held in June.
In July, France approved the sale of two other maize varieties developped by U.S. firm
Monsanto Co and German firm AgrEvo.
The decision on maize was however coupled with a two-year moratorium on genetic rapeseed
also produced by AgrEvo.
Ecologists have argued genetic varieties of plants like rapeseed were especially risky to
the environment because their seeds are more easily spread by the wind.
Today's decision by the Council of State however does not relate to these two maize
varieties.
The farm ministry stressed in a separate statement that the decision to suspend the
approval of Novartis maize had not been based on substantive matters.
"The Council of State has thus in no way ruled on the merit of those arguments
questioning the seeds' safety," the ministry said.
"In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture recalls that all European scientific
bodies that have been consulted have concluded that these seeds present no danger,"
the statement said.
"The ministry stresses that this is a cautio
nary measure...that will not prejudice the decision to be taken by the Council of State
on the merits of the case," it said.