EU allows member States to keep national bans on GM products

EU Environment Ministers have voted to allow member States to keep national bans on genetically modified products.

The council rejected Commission demands to overturn the ban on GM foods on single market grounds.

Ireland's minister, Dick Roche, said it's exactly the kind of demand that stokes up public disillusionment with the EU project as a whole.

He said it is a strong message to the Commission that the views of member States must be respected.

But the eco group, Friends of the Earth Ireland, welcomed the vote.