(Reuters) -
France asked the European Commission on Monday to suspend authorization to
plant Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) MON810 corn, the environment
ministry said, as the country seeks to keep a ban on GM crops despite losing
court rulings.
France
banned in 2008 the growing of MON810 corn, the only GM crop approved for
planting in the European Union, citing environmental risks.
Its highest
court ruled against the ban in November, following a similar decision by the
European Court of Justice last September, leading the government to say it
would look at all ways to maintain the freeze on GM planting.
The French
government's request to the EU executive was based on "significant risks
for the environment" shown in recent scientific studies, the ministry said
in a statement.
EU
governments are divided over authorizing GM crop cultivation, with some
countries like France reluctant to allow them in view of public hostility.
Denmark,
which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, is seeking to revive stalled
talks on allowing individual countries to decide on whether to allow GM crops.
The
stalemate over GM crops has frustrated crop farmers and biotech companies, most
of which have scaled back research on such varieties in Europe.
(Reporting
by Gus Trompiz; Editing by William Hardy)
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