Germany to ban cultivation of GMO maize-Minister

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,618913,00.html

Finally after France, Germany also makes the GM ban formal.

Del Spiegel is one of the most popular German newspapers.

German national elections are to happen in September and the Government cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the public sentiments. Similar to what is happening in India where important political alliances except for the ruling coalition others like BJP have put a ban on GM in their manifestos.

Sangita Sharma

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Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:14am
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLE16356920090414

BERLIN/HAMBURG, April 14 (Reuters) - Germany is to ban cultivation and sale of maize with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said on Tuesday.

The ban affects MON 810 maize which may no longer be sown for this summer's harvest, Aigner told a news conference.

Aigner, who took office in October 2008, said previously she would review approval for cultivation of GMO maize in Germany before this year's sowing took place in late April.

MON 810 maize, developed and marketed by U.S. biotech company Monsanto (MON.N), is the only GM crop that may be commercially grown in the EU after the bloc ruled that it is safe.

Several other European Union countries including France have banned GMO maize cultivation in the face of EU approvals. But the bans are controversial and face action from the EU Commission to get them lifted. (Reporting by Thorsten Severin and Michael Hogan; Editing by James Jukwey)