The EU could move to ease its “zero tolerance” ban on unauthorised GM crops.

Member states have voted to allow shipments of animal feed containing up to 0.1% of unauthorised GM crops into the EU, a Brussels spokesperson has confirmed. Currently, shipments of crops found to contain trace levels of unauthorised GM material are turned away at the docks.

However, the proposed relaxation in regulations still has some hurdles to pass. It will undergo further consideration by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers before a decision is made on its implementation.

“This is an initial vote by member states,” the spokesperson revealed. “The proposal still requires ratification by the European Parliament and Council.”