The European Commission plans on suspending the go ahead on any new GMO crops over the next few months, whilst it first wants agreement on draft legislation paving the way for individual member states to make GM decisions themselves.
The draft rules were initially proposed in 2010 and were meant to free the way for rapid decision making with regards to GM crops. However, opposition from France and the UK has held up agreement thus far.
Current EU legislation states that any GM crop approved for cultivation can be grown anywhere inside the Union, unless individual member states have scientific reasons for issuing a ban.
Only two GM crops are currently approved for cultivation in the EU, as opposition from consumers is still strong. This compares to around 90 GM varieties approved in the US and 30 in Brazil.
