EU authorises first GMO seeds for sale

In a move which has angered Greens across the continent the European Union has approved the first genetically modified (GMO) seeds for planting that may be sold across the 25-nation bloc.

The EU executive authorised 17 different seed strains of maize engineered by US biotech giant Monsanto. The seeds come from a parent crop that won approval for growing just before the EU began its biotech ban on growing new types of GMO crops in 1998 that lasted nearly six years.

But the European Commission was unable to reach consensus on a proposal to set maximum levels of GMO content in seeds - one of the final pieces of the EU's raft of legislation to end the ban.

The leader of the Green Party in Ireland, Mr Trevor Sargent called the move unfortunate and said: "Ireland must be protected from the predatory tactics of biotech companies, which seek to end our effective GMO seed free status, if our marketing potential as Green Food Ireland is to be developed".

"The contamination of conventional and organic crops by neighbouring GM crops, has already been proven. The question remains of who will be liable? Insurance companies have refused to assume responsibility for environmental and health risks linked to the marketing of GMOs within the EU," he added.

"The Government must clearly act on this latest EU decision. What is the Government for if it is not protect us from such attempts at national sabotage by bio-profiteers," Mr Sargent.

Before today's decision, the 17 seeds only had national authorisations issued by France and Spain. This meant that only farmers in those countries were able to buy and plant the seeds.

Under an established legal procedure, once an EU state gives the green light for a seed to be sold on its territory - and assuming all EU legislation is complied with - the Commission is obliged to extend that authorisation onto an EU-wide basis.

But the move has angered greens, who say it is irresponsible to allow the widespread use of GMO seeds while many EU countries have no laws on separating biotech and conventional crops.

The 17 seeds will now be entered into what is called the Common Catalogue, the EU's overall seed directory that compiles all national seed catalogues. The parent maize seed, known as MON 810, has been engineered to resist certain insects.

Additional reporting Reuters