PARIS — French experts said on Wednesday serious doubts
remained over whether the only genetically modified (GMO) crop grown in France
was safe, a move likely to prompt the extension of a current ban on GMOs.
A government-appointed committee of scientists, farmers,
politicians and non-governmental organiZations had examined MON 810, a maize
developed by US biotech giant Monsanto.
"The committee cannot say anything but that there are serious
doubts on the use of MON 810," the head of the committee, senator Jean-Francois
Legrand, told a joint news conference with French Environment Minister
Jean-Louis Borloo.
Monsanto was not immediately available for comment.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday that if the
experts expressed "serious doubts" over GMO use, he would use a safeguard clause
which allows European Union members to refrain from applying EU laws on the
basis they may put the population at risk.
Borloo said Sarkozy would make a decision based on the report
within 48 hours.
Last month France imposed a temporary ban on the commercial
sale of MON 810 maize until February 9, to allow time to look into the
environmental and health implications of its use.
However, the suspension did not have an immediate effect on
crops because maize sowings only take place in the spring.
If France decides to use the safeguard clause, it would have
to provide the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, with proof that
there is new scientific evidence justifying a ban on the genetically modified
MON 810 maize.
The Commission would then have 60 days to decide on the
validity of France’s argument. If the Commission deemed it invalid, France would
probably receive an order to lift its ban.
Legrand said the committee found new evidence arguing against
the safety of the maize, including much wider dissemination than had been
acknowledged in 1998 when the EU had evaluated it, as well as a negative impact
on biodiversity.
The EU has approved the use of Monsanto’s MON 810 technology
around the 27-nation bloc, but several countries including France and Germany
have expressed concern about its safety.
Germany agreed last month to lift its temporary ban on the maize after
Monsanto agreed to extra crop monitoring there.
