A shift in the balance of power on the EU Council of Ministers looks likely to end the de facto right of EU member states to block the entry of GM foods and ingredients into their national territories.
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Governments like Greece and Austria have been exercising such bans, even for foods and ingredients that have secured EU-wide marketing approvals from the European Commission.
Until now, the Council has backed these member states – despite the Commission claiming such bans are illegal under EU law.
However, yesterday (31 October), the council for environment ministers did not back Austria’s national ban on importing two types of GM maize (MON810 and T25), allowing the Commission to scrap the ban, if it chooses.
With Brussels expected to act, the EU’s current Portuguese presidency said: “The Commission proposal [would] prevail against the explicit will of one member state and that is something that has to give us a pause for thought.”
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