EU moratorium on GM ‘illegal’

THE World Trade Organisation (WTO) has confirmed in a final ruling that an EU moratorium on genetically-modified (GMO) foods was illegal, but Brussels said the finding would not affect policy.

The verdict, which was widely expected, also condemned six member states — Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg — for applying their own bans on a number of GMO products previously approved by the European Commission.

“The substance of the ruling has not changed,” said one diplomat, which was issued late on Wednesday.

The WTO made a preliminary ruling in February.

The decision, in a case brought by the United States, Canada and Argentina, the world’s biggest GMO producers, did not touch on the sensitive issue of whether GMOs are safe or whether they can be considered comparable to conventional products.

The European Union, where consumers are suspicious of what are often called Frankenfoods, said there was no need for any rule change because the six-year moratorium on approving GMOs ended in 2004.

Manufacturers have also withdrawn virtually all products covered by the individual state bans.