Genetically Modified Corn Moratorium Lifted By France's Council Of State

PARIS — France's highest administrative body has annulled rules suspending the planting of genetically modified corn, but two key ministries quickly said the government is still looking for ways to block such crops.

The Council of State, acting on a complaint from U.S.-based agricultural company Monsanto and other interested parties, on Monday annulled two Agriculture Ministry rulings from 2007 and 2008 that suspended the planting of Monsanto MON 810 modified corn.

Monday's ruling cited a failure to establish not only the urgency of suspending genetically modified corn but also the existence of a health risk to humans, animals or the environment.

The Agriculture and Ecology ministries "took note" of the decision, but voiced continued opposition to having GMOs on French soil because of what the agencies said were dangling questions about their environmental impact.

"These persistent uncertainties lead the government to maintain its opposition to cultivating MON 810 corn on French territory," the statement said. The government "is studying, as of now, the means to attain this objective."

France is the European Union's agricultural powerhouse and opposition to GMOs is traditionally strong here.

Others also criticized Monday's ruling.

EU lawmaker Corinne Lepage, former French environment minister, said she "deplores" the decision, contending that it reduces any room for maneuver nations have on the GMO issue. She wants European laws to be adapted to give countries a "solid juridical basis to ban GMO cultivation."

For Greenpeace "judicial procedures must not mask the true fundamental problem."

Monsanto has said its engineered MON 810 corn seed has been approved as safe for human consumption and been used commercially around the world for 15 years.

Comments

[Lucile S]

05:06 PM on 11/30/2011

People from Monsanto are just liars. It's not because some unconscious countries approved GMO corn that it's healthy.
French Council of State never listen to Agriculture and Ecology ministries. This decision was taken to promote international business only.

[ducatigp]

10:45 PM on 11/29/2011

Check what this company is doing to with cotton in India, seeds in South America, then soy bean production in the US. Cotton seeds cost more, soy beans are over taken the lands in South America. And do not dare save seeds in the US. Best way to control people is food production. Because of ethanol production (corn) in the US we are growing a lot less soy beans and South American is growing more, but it is ruining many lifes. Check it out:

http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12598:gm-soy-increases-poverty-threatens-health-in-south-america-farmer-advocates

France has had its share of troubles with this company over the years, makes you wonder who was bought out!! Check the government/official/families bank accounts

[El Justiciero]

01:30 PM on 11/29/2011

As the French hook themselves on GM corn and start to incorporate high fructose corn syrup into their diets, watch them get fat & stupid like Americans.

[Karl Wilder]

01:24 PM on 11/29/2011

Follow the money. It is time to occupy Monsanto and put the CEO in jail along with the rest of the group. Conspiracy to commit murder via GMO food would be the charge and a steady diet of GMO until death is induced could be the penalty.

[Primadonna]

01:45 PM on 11/29/2011

I hear you ... I believe all decisions regarding GMO's should be tabled for a year and every Monsanto employee, politicians in favor of GMO's - and all of their families - should eat nothing but GMO's for the next year and then let's check in with them body, mind and spirit and see how they're doing BEFORE they unleash that systemic poison on the rest of the planet.

[Bullitt08]

09:11 AM on 11/29/2011

GM Corn that does not produce seed corn, squeezes out non-GM corn, and forces farmers to buy seed every season is evil.

[DANIELLECLARKE]

04:11 AM on 11/29/2011

Damn and i thought Bill Gates was smart.. i am staying organic and heritage

[rollingrock]

11:54 PM on 11/28/2011

The French people will never stand for this. There will be riots in the streets!

[KarlaElisa]

02:50 AM on 11/29/2011

fingers crossed you're right

[imissmydog]

09:18 PM on 11/28/2011

Somewhere in France, someone got paid a nice chunk of change.

[verflixed]

01:21 AM on 11/29/2011

Monsanto

[N0NDescript0]

12:18 PM on 11/29/2011

more likely imissmydog was suggesting that a french politician was paid, not Monsanto. M's GM corn still can't be planted, so they can't profit yet.

[Fnordpocalypse]

09:17 PM on 11/28/2011

Nothing is more dangerous than letting a corporation control the food supply. Their plants don't make seeds anymore. What happens when they decide to raise the price of seeds? My advice, buy heirloom seeds now, before some government puppet makes it illegal.

[sabelmouse]

12:31 PM on 11/29/2011

nothing is more dangerous than a monopoly on anything essential. food , water , air.

[MrBIgp]

08:59 PM on 11/28/2011

All corn is genetically modified, whether it is through cross breeding or gene splicing.

[Oginikwe]

09:11 PM on 11/28/2011

Hybridization is not the same thing as gene splicing. Hybridization is the same species crossing with another of the same species.

Gene splicing is putting dna from another species into something else. Bacteria into plants; human growth hormone into pigs and cows--not like crossing peas or corn pollen at all.

[MrBIgp]

10:20 PM on 11/28/2011

There is nothing in a gene that attaches it to a specific species. Yours is a superstitious argument.

[Diane Davis]

08:54 PM on 11/28/2011

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/25/wesson-oil-contains-gmo.aspx?e_cid=20111125_DNL_art_1

Many of us know that genetic manipulation is way beyond harmful to life.

[ginaannhuff]

08:13 PM on 11/28/2011

France was strongarmed into using GMOs. In other words, after they disagreed certain persons were threatened with force. All the people who think GMO is all about science don't realize it's really about world power and control--trickling down from the world banks to the corporations who are their puppets. The people are at the bottom--you know, the people whose lives mean nothing to those with the power.

And No--to the person who thinks organic farmers use chemical pesticides. Organic farmers do not use synthetic pesticides--that is unless they are among those who call themselves organic but in fact have twisted the system with lobbyist lingo to market to the poor fools who believe them.

[HazelPethigFan]

08:44 PM on 11/28/2011

hahahahaha.. Ok....now all of a sudden you antiScience people say "synthetic" pesticides are not used on organic farms. being a little specific now aren't we? Why haven't we seen that phrase before on HPost?

Try googling "copper sulfate". It's an organic farm fungicide. No....it's not "synthetic" since it's compounds are taken directly from the ground. But neither are lead and asbestos called "synthetic".

MSDSs show Copper sulfate used on organic farms is more hazardous than RoundUp.

[ginaannhuff]

08:57 PM on 11/28/2011

The question has never been about science vs. non-science. You will never find more scientifically informed people than sophisticated organic commercial farmers. Do a little research so you can appreciate the nuances in the larger dialogue: http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm

[Oginikwe]

08:58 PM on 11/28/2011

Link please.
Also, lead and asbestos are known health hazards while copper sulfate is not.

[HazelPethigFan]

08:50 PM on 11/28/2011

France was "strongarmed"? by who?

Oh wait...it's the "M" word.

good lordyy.....you people have the p aranoia machine turned up to 11 tonight.

[ginaannhuff]

09:08 PM on 11/28/2011

Do some digging. Governments have been on their knees to big banks and corporations for a very long time. Follow the money. It's all in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and oil. And all of those items are directly related to GMO foods. It's all about who controls the food and resources. Why do you think small farmers are being run out of business? Oh wait, that's all paranoia.

[Oginikwe]

09:12 PM on 11/28/2011

Well, Hazelthepig, here you are again spouting your propaganda.

[simitci]

07:52 PM on 11/28/2011

Plain and simple...MONSANTO, DU PONT, LAND 'O' LAKES,BAYER to name a few are MONSTERS.....EVIL....WICKED....PERIOD......Lab coats screwing around with DNA from pigs, flounder and bacteria and creating a seed that has all and more within it's DNA. Force feeding (without labels) humans and animals for the past 15 years worldwide..FDA does nothing to make sure all and I mean all ingredients are labeled ...so that you as the consumer can make your own choice as to whether or not you wish to put these chemicals into your body. Monsanto has managed to destroy lives particularly innocent farmers ....Monsanto makes the $$$$$$$ while the poor Farmer makes barely enough to survive...yet he works even more to produce corn and soy products for Monsanto...The cross pollination is infecting other farms and destroying their crops..Then Monsanto turns around and sues the Farmers for growing Monsanto's seed...It is not a conspiracy...this is what they want....POWER TO THE CORPORATIONS....Death to the People. Once the cancers and other illnesses kick in ...they turn around and shove the medications down your throats....Win, Win for the Monsters. Well I don't want Lab coats manufacturing my food....FDA needs to LABEL ALL FOODS...and Pet foods. JUST DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE...WAKE UP...It's our right to speak up and say no more....

[Oginikwe]

09:31 PM on 11/28/2011

You are correct and here is some science:
Scientific American condemns restrictions on GM research
http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11311-scientific-american-condemns-restrictions-on-gm-research

Do Seed Companies Control GM Crop Research?
Scientists must ask corporations for permission before publishing independent research on genetically modified crops. That restriction must end

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=do-seed-companies-control-gm-crop-research

[HazelPethigFan]

06:51 PM on 11/28/2011

awh...­poor baby anti-Scien­ce/antiGMe­rs....you've lost again

[HazelPethigFan]

06:53 PM on 11/28/2011

Science will always win. Hysteria and pseudoscience will always lose.

[mothergrace]

07:15 PM on 11/28/2011

You do not even know what science is. If you did, you would be arguing science instead of just trying to bully everyone into not arguing with you.

Leave the big talk to the grown-ups, dear.

[Diane Davis]

08:57 PM on 11/28/2011

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/25/wesson-oil-contains-gmo.aspx?e_cid=20111125_DNL_art_1

What is your outlook on happiness?

[Fnordpocalypse]

09:13 PM on 11/28/2011

I'd say congrats, but everybody loses in this case.

[HazelPethigFan]

06:50 PM on 11/28/2011

"Monday's ruling cited a failure to establish not only the urgency of suspending genetically modified corn but also the existence of a health risk to humans, animals or the environment."

This is a win for science and loss for the anti-technology Luddites of HuffPost.

awhhhhh...poooor baby anti-Science/antiGMers....you lose again