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.