GENETIC ENGINEERING: COMMISSION FACES STINGING ABOUT-TURN IN COUNCIL OH GMO BANS

摘要

In one of the most stinging about-turns suffered by the European Commission in recent months, EU Environment Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on June 24 voted by a large majority to reject its proposals to get five member states to lift their unilateral bans on genetically-modified organisms. Nor was there the qualified majority required either to approve or reject the marketing authorisation proposal for MON863 trans-genie maize: under the terms of committee procedure, the case has been returned to the Commission for a final decision. A Commission which the twenty five member states now expect to "hear" the very firm message from the Council.