French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a halt to the planting of genetically modified (GMO) pest-resistant crops pending the results of a review into the sector.
Sarkozy made the announcement at the closure of a government-initiated national summit on the environment, which closed in Paris yesterday (25 October).
The review, which is likely to be published later this year or in early 2008, will be carried out in parallel to the preparation of a bill transcribing a EU directive on GM crops into national legislation, which is to be adopted next spring.
Around only 1.5% of France’s cultivated maize land – equating to 22,000 hectares – has been sown with GMO maize this year.

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