By Matthew Dalton
BRUSSELS--The European Union is poised to approve the bloc's
second genetically modified crop for cultivation in 15 years,
handing a victory to DuPont over objections from most of the EU's
member states.
At a meeting of ministers here on Tuesday, 19 out of the bloc's
28 nations opposed approving the crop, a corn with the name 1507
that was developed by DuPont. But under the EU's Byzantine biotech
rules, that isn't a big enough majority to prevent the European
Commission, the EU's executive arm, from approving the corn.
The EU has the world's toughest rules on growing or importing
genetically modified crops, fueled by strong public opposition to
the technology in many European nations. The rules have prompted a
long history of complaints from biotech companies that the bloc is
ignoring scientific evidence in refusing to allow the cultivation
of other crops. Some companies have given up: Monsanto said last
year that it was withdrawing all its applications to grow its
biotech crops in the EU.
Only one other genetically modified crop is allowed to be grown
in the EU, a corn developed by Monsanto that is resistant to corn
borer, a worm, and was approved by the bloc in 1998. DuPont first
sought approval for 1507 in 2001; after 12 years, multiple positive
scientific safety reviews, and several decisions by the European
Court of Justice criticizing the commission for delaying its
decision on the crop, the commission is now close to approving
it.
"What a hot potato," said Tonio Borg, the commissioner in charge
of the issue. Mr. Borg said the commission is now obligated to
approve the crop, but he gave no timetable about when the
commission might act.
The crop "meets all EU regulatory requirements and should be
approved for cultivation without further delay," DuPont said in a
statement.
The decision by the EU's executive arm faced stiff opposition
from powerful member states, including France, and environmental
groups, amid concerns that the crop could harm moths and
butterflies. At a time when skepticism among Europeans toward EU
institutions is running high, some ministers worried about a
decision coming out of Brussels that would override the preferences
of so many national governments,.
"Our fellow citizens are going to be scratching their heads
about that one," said Thierry Repentin, France's European affairs
minister. "We have to admit the fact that our system for
genetically modified authorizations does not work here in
Europe."
An overhaul of the system is now in the works. The commission is
proposing to give national governments the authority to ban
genetically modified crops for reasons other than health and safety
of the products. That could unclog the EU's approval process for
growing them, given that many have already received passing marks
from the commission and the European Food Safety Authority.
Though the overhaul could result in more biotech crops being
grown in Europe, the industry has been wary, since the proposal
would allow countries to ban biotech crops for nonscientific
reasons.
"Frankly speaking, we are in favor of the current system,"
József Máté, a spokesman for DuPont. "The problem is the
implementation."
Spain, one of the EU nations most in favor of biotech crops,
originally sought approval to grow 1507. The U.K., Finland, Estonia
and Sweden also supported the crop's approval. Four nations,
including Germany, abstained from the vote.
Michael Roth, Germany's minister of state for Europe, said his
country was forced to abstain since the governing coalition in
Berlin was divided on the issue.
"A majority of member states of the European Union has taken a
critical view," said Mr. Roth. "I personally, as a Social Democrat,
would have liked to see a clear majority in favor of rejection;
that didn't happen."
Gabriele Steinhauser contributed to this article.
Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com
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