European Parliament gives governments new powers to ban GM crops

The European Parliament today voted to grant national governments new powers to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in their territories. Today's decision by the European Parliament for the first time allows governments to ban entire categories of GM crops. Several groups criticised the flaws of this law. Especially about the formal role of biotech companies in the political decision of national governments to ban GM crops.

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on EU member states to immediately use these new powers to ban all GM maize crops – the only category of GM crop currently in the pipeline for cultivation in Europe.

Here you can find some press statements:

http://www.foeeurope.org/european-parliament-votes-new-powers-governments-ban-GM-crops-130115

http://www.ifoam-eu.org/sites/default/files/ifoameu_policy_gmo_ep_vote_pr_20150108_final.pdf

http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2015/EU-Parliament-to-adopt-new-GM-crop-national-opt-out-law/