Greece bans gene rapeseed, rejects
gene maize
RTw 05.10.98 12:50
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ATHENS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Greece has banned the import and marketing of a
genetically-altered strain of rapeseed developed by Germany's AgrEvo even though the
European Union has approved its use across the bloc, Greek officials said on Monday.
Athens also voted against plans to give EU-wide approval to a genetically modified maize
developed by chemical firm Pioneer Companies Inc, the Greek environment ministry said in a
statement made available to Reuters.
"Our country voted against this product (maize) because of reservations about
possible effects on the environment and public health," the statement said.
The statement quoted deputy environment minister Theodoros Koliopanos as saying that
developments in genetic engineering should be subject to exhaustive scientific research
focused "with the greatest care on the possible negative effects on the environment
and public health."
Athens' decision to ban the oilseed produced by AgrEvo, an agrochemical joint venture
between Hoechst AG and Schering AG, is the third time a government in the 15-nation EU has
invoked health or environmental concerns to block gene-altered crops.
Under EU rules, member states can impose unilateral bans on health or environmental
grounds but must notify, and get clearance from, the European Commission, which consults
scientific advisory committees before making its decision.
The environmental group Greenpeace welcomed Athens' move.
"More and more governments are agreeing with environmental groups like Greenpeace
that these transgenic crops pose a risk to public health and the environment," the
organisation said in a statement.
The AgrEvo rapessed is genetically engineered to resist the herbicide BASTA, produced by
AgrEvo, and carries an antibiotic resistance gene as a marker.
The Pioneer maize carries a synthetic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) gene to protect against
the European corn borer pest, is resistant to the herbicide Round Up produced by America's
Monsanto and has two antibiotic resistance genes as markers.
In early 1997, Austria and Luxembourg imposed unilateral bans on gene-altered maize
developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis which also carries an antibiotic
resistance marker gene.
But the Commission ruled last month that the bans were unjustified and told Vienna and
Luxembourg it would take court action if they were not lifted.
On September 25, France suspended an earlier ministerial decision to authorise Novartis
maize, pending a final court ruling in December.
In July, Paris imposed a two-year moratorium on approvals of transgenic rapeseed --
including another AgrEvo strain which was given EU approval in 1997 -- after concerns that
the genetic modifications could be transmitted to other crops.
The Commission is expected on Wednesday to tell France the moratorium breaches EU law, a
Commission source said.