European ministers have failed to reach agreement on forcing Austria to lift a ban on importing genetically modified maize. Fifteen Member States supported Austria’s decision to restrict the import of GM maize; four (Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK) supported the Commission’s proposal to do so.

Earlier attempts to force Austria to change her policies had failed, apparently because they included both the growing and import of crops. The new draft allows Austria to keep its cultivation ban and that seems to have been enough to cause the swing,

In the absence of a definitive vote, the final decision about Austria now lies with the European Commission, under pressure to take action because of an earlier WTO decision that European restrictions on the introduction of GM foods violated international trade rules. The WTO deadline for European compliance is November 21, 2007.

The Commission might make it in time; if they do decide to comply, Austria would have twenty days in which to respond.

Source:

Laura Dixon and Salamander Davoudi (30.10.07). Austria step closer to lifting GM ban. Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4ee28672-870c-11dc-a3ff-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1)

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