EU Ombudsman Rules Against Commission For Refusing to Release GMO Food Papers

摘要

Brussels—The European Ombudsman, which handles complaints against EU agencies, has found the European Commission guilty of maladministration over its refusal to release documents to environmental advocates about the long-term safety of genetically modified foods.rnIn the ruling, published July 17, the Ombudsman found the Commission should not have withheld documents relating to a procedure before the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body.rnThe Commission used an exemption to public access rules allowing the restriction of documents applying to court cases in order to turn down a request from Friends of the Earth Europe (FOE) in August 2004.