GM maize proposal shot down

EU nations have refused to force five fellow member states to allow cultivation of genetically modified maize — thus defying a proposal by the European Commission.

Of the 27 EU nations, only Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Estonia supported the commission’s bid to lift Austria and Hungary’s ban on MON810 maize, genetically modified for resistance to insect pests.

Separately, EU nations agreed that Austria can prohibit cultivation of T25 GM maize.