Germany Bans GM Corn

" Germany has become the sixth European country to outlaw the growth of genetically modified (GM) corn "

"This is a victory for the environment, for consumers, and farmers who want to avoid GE [genetically engineered] crops, as well as for independent science," said the environmental activist group Greenpeace International.

German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner announced Tuesday the country's decision to halt cultivation of MON 810, a strain of corn marketed by the U.S. biotech giant Monsanto. "There is a justifiable reason to believe that ... MON 810 presents a danger to the environment," stated Aigner, according to BBC News. .

The German Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, IlseAigner, said "I have come to the conclusion that there are legitimategrounds to accept that genetically modified corn from the MON810 strainconstitutes a danger to the environment."

MON810 is mostly cultivated in the EU for animal feed – and is nowdue for re-authorisation under EU rules after the expiry of itsten-year license. Besides Germany, five countries have already bannedthe planting of it: France, Greece, Austria, Hungary and most recently,Luxembourg.

Any government that seriously examines the risks associated withgrowing this maize can only reach one rational conclusion: it must bebanned. Instead of trying to force countries to lift national bans onthis crop, the European Commission needs to face the reality ofscientific findings. We're calling on Commissioner Dimas to stop there-authorisation of Monsanto's maize in the EU.

In the coming weeks, the European Union will also decide whether ornot this GE rice can enter EU countries, appear on supermarket shelvesand end up on our dinner plates.

We hope that governments around the world will follow the examples of countries like Germany and France and ban all risky GMOs.