Politics Lies Behind France’s Ban On GMO Corn

European Union                                                                                            

Politics Lies Behind France’s Ban On GMO Corn

USMEF-Europe reports that the government’s Jan. 11 decision to ban the only GMO crop grown in France is clearly politically motivated ahead of France’s local elections scheduled for March. One radical anti-GMO activist was actually on hunger strike protesting the use of GMOs until this announcement. The French government clearly wants to close the debate to prevent the issue from affecting the coming electoral campaign. Even within the French government, the GMO issue is divisive. Many members of the ruling party object to the decision because it is politically – not scientifically – driven, and while the minister of the environment supports the GMO ban, the minister of agriculture opposes it.

Although the European Food Safety Authority systematically rejected their arguments when Austria, Greece and Hungary took similar action, the EU Commission’s attempts to force them to lift the ban have not yet succeeded. The EU Council of Ministers has refused three times to follow the EU Commission’s proposal to lift the ban, and most of the countries voting against lifting the ban have characterized the EU Commission’s proposal as an attack on national sovereignty.

France will now have to provide the EU Commission with new scientific evidence to justify the ban. The government’s decision has provoked opposition from scientists, farmers and politicians. The main farmers’ union (FNSEA) in France criticized this decision and cast doubts on the ability of the French authorities to challenge the EU Commission.

European Union                                                                                            

Politics Lies Behind France’s Ban On GMO Corn

USMEF-Europe reports that the government’s Jan. 11 decision to ban the only GMO crop grown in France is clearly politically motivated ahead of France’s local elections scheduled for March. One radical anti-GMO activist was actually on hunger strike protesting the use of GMOs until this announcement. The French government clearly wants to close the debate to prevent the issue from affecting the coming electoral campaign. Even within the French government, the GMO issue is divisive. Many members of the ruling party object to the decision because it is politically – not scientifically – driven, and while the minister of the environment supports the GMO ban, the minister of agriculture opposes it.

Although the European Food Safety Authority systematically rejected their arguments when Austria, Greece and Hungary took similar action, the EU Commission’s attempts to force them to lift the ban have not yet succeeded. The EU Council of Ministers has refused three times to follow the EU Commission’s proposal to lift the ban, and most of the countries voting against lifting the ban have characterized the EU Commission’s proposal as an attack on national sovereignty.

France will now have to provide the EU Commission with new scientific evidence to justify the ban. The government’s decision has provoked opposition from scientists, farmers and politicians. The main farmers’ union (FNSEA) in France criticized this decision and cast doubts on the ability of the French authorities to challenge the EU Commission.