ECJ confirms view against French GM maize ban

A ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has cast further doubt on the legality of the French government’s ban on Monsanto’s genetically modified insect-resistant MON810 maize. The ECJ says that, in this particular case, such action cannot be taken under the “safeguard clause” of the EU GMO registration Directive (2001/18). The clause had been quoted by the French government when it first suspended use of the maize in late 2007. The ECJ’s ruling is in response to a request for legal clarification by the French council of state, the Conseil d’État. The EU court’s ruling agrees with the opinion issued by its advocate general in March ( Agrow No 613, p 11).