EU court imposes curbs on GM honey
September 7, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Honey that contains traces of pollen from genetically modified crops needs special authorization before it can be sold, the European Union's top court said yesterday, in a judgment that could have widespread consequences on the bloc's policy on genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
The ruling from the European Court of Justice in Brussels came after several Bavarian beekeepers demanded compensation from their government for honey and food supplements that contained traces of pollen from genetically modified maize.
The beekeepers had their hives close to fields where the Bavarian government was growing Monsanto's MON 810 maize for research purposes.
The EU has strict guidelines on authorizing and informing consumers about foods containing GMOs - a policy that has caused problems for producers of GM seeds such as United States-based Monsanto Co that are used to much laxer rules in other parts of the world.
Environmental activists said yesterday's ruling will force the 17-country EU to strengthen the rules even further at a time they worried the bloc was dropping its zero-tolerance policy toward GMOs. "This is a victory for beekeepers, consumers and the movement for GM-free agriculture in Europe," Mute Schimpf, a food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the EU approved rules to allow the import of animal feed contaminated with small traces of GM crops - a move that was heavily criticized by environmental groups.
The ruling from the European Court of Justice in Brussels came after several Bavarian beekeepers demanded compensation from their government for honey and food supplements that contained traces of pollen from genetically modified maize.
The beekeepers had their hives close to fields where the Bavarian government was growing Monsanto's MON 810 maize for research purposes.
The EU has strict guidelines on authorizing and informing consumers about foods containing GMOs - a policy that has caused problems for producers of GM seeds such as United States-based Monsanto Co that are used to much laxer rules in other parts of the world.
Environmental activists said yesterday's ruling will force the 17-country EU to strengthen the rules even further at a time they worried the bloc was dropping its zero-tolerance policy toward GMOs. "This is a victory for beekeepers, consumers and the movement for GM-free agriculture in Europe," Mute Schimpf, a food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the EU approved rules to allow the import of animal feed contaminated with small traces of GM crops - a move that was heavily criticized by environmental groups.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
