03.08.2009
Austria pushes EU for GMO opt-out clause
The cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the European Union could soon no longer be decided by scientific facts, but by political preferences. Fourteen member states ? among them France, Poland and Portugal ? say each of the 27 nations of the EU should be allowed to decide independently of scientific risk assessments whether or not to allow GMO cultivation on their territory. At the end of June, Austria tabled a proposal at the Environment Council in Luxembourg to establish this kind of politically motivated opt-out clause
29.06.2009
Austria proposes GMO ?opt-out? clause
After a debate on environmental risks related to the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Austria is now calling for an opt-out clause to be introduced to related EU legislation to allow individual member states to decide on cultivation. [...] The delegation argues that ?relevant socio-economic aspects could form a basis for individual member states to prohibit or regulate the cultivation of GMOs on the whole territory, or certain defined areas, of individual member states?.
22.06.2009
Eleven EU countries will call for right to create GMO-free regions
Eleven European Union countries will call next week for the right to opt-outs for growing genetically modified (GM) crops, to cut through complex EU decision-making and end years of stalemate on biotech policy. The suggestion, to be floated at a meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday, would be for governments to restrict cultivation of specific GM crop types if they saw fit.
03.06.2009
Towards a GM-free Europe? Austria resists GMOs
Austrian voters want the next European Parliament to fight against genetically modified crops. Only about 20% of Austrians plan to cast European ballots, yet they want their national GMO ban left alone. EU authorisations continue to sow doubt.
02.03.2009
EU upholds Austria, Hungary right to ban GM crops
EU environment ministers gave a stinging rebuff to the European Commission on Monday and upheld the sovereign right of Austria and Hungary to ban growing of genetically modified (GM) maize, the EU presidency said. The Commission, the EU?s executive arm, had wanted the ministers to order both countries to lift the bans within 20 days. EU law provides for national GMO bans under certain circumstances if the government can justify the prohibition. It was the third time the Commission had tried to get Austria?s bans lifted and the second for Hungary.
25.07.2008
Austria bans Monsanto?s MON 863 Bt maize
Austria has banned the import of the highly dangerous genetically engineered maize MON 863. [...] Tests carried out on rats fed with MON 863 maize revealed they suffered liver and kidney damage. In 2005, we passed evidence of these tests to a team of experts headed by Professor Gilles Eric Séralini, a French governmental advisor on genetic engineering (GE), for independent evaluation. The study found ?it cannot be concluded that GE corn MON863 is a safe product?.
25.06.2008
EU says Austria has lifted a ban on importing, processing genetically modified corn
Austria has lifted a ban on importing and processing genetically modified corn as part of the European Union?s efforts to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling on biotech foods, the EU said Tuesday. [...] Robert Prochazka at the Austrian mission in Geneva confirmed that his country implemented an EU decision on corn last month. It doesn?t allow for the genetically modified crop to be planted in Austria, he said.
05.11.2007
Deadline looms for decision on Austrian maize ban
The decision on whether to force Austria to lift its national ban on genetically modified maize now lies in the hands of the European Commission, after EU environment ministers failed to agree at last week?s Council meeting. This is the third time since 2005 that ministers have failed to find a majority for or against a Commission proposal to lift Austria?s restrictions on two types on GM maize.
25.10.2007
France may ban Monsanto GMO maize
France is considering banning the use of the sole genetically modified crop grown in the European Union, a maize produced by U.S. biotech giant Monsanto, Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier said on Wednesday. President Nicolas Sarkozy will unveil on Thursday a new environment policy based on a series of meetings bringing together government, environmentalists, scientists and business leaders.
17.09.2007
EU Court rejects law of Upper Austria to ban GE crops
Yesterday, the European Court of Justice confirmed that statutory GMO-free regions are illegal. The Court dismissed the appeals of Upper Austria and the Austrian Government against their ban on the use of biotech crops in the region of Upper Austria.
21.08.2007
Update on GMO discussion in the EU
National movements campaigning against genetic engineering are helping to democratise the EU. That was the result of a recently completed Austrian Science Fund FWF project led by an independent researcher. According to the study?s results, the almost simultaneous mobilisation of national populations reinforces public protest at a European level. The project therefore provides an optimistic outlook for the growing influence of the general population on EU decision-making processes.
Go to page:
