Germany approves draft law banning GMO crops
Angela Merkel's cabinet has ratified a draft law banning the cultivation of crops with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
EU member states can choose to opt-out, restrict or completely ban GMO cultivation even if the European Commission confirms that the plant strain is safe for the cultivation.
Germany's cabinet has approved a draft law banning the cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops, government sources said on Wednesday.
Under the draft law, the government will ask EU approval seeking applicants of GMO cultivation to remove Germany from the area in the EU where the crops are approved for growing.
If this is refused, Germany can still impose a ban on growing GMO crops even if the European Union (EU) approves the plant strain as safe to cultivate.
In September 2015, the German cabinet announced that it will ban the cultivation of crops with GMOs in accordance with new EU rules which enables member states to opt out of their cultivation.
Under the draft law, the government will ask EU approval seeking applicants of GMO cultivation to remove Germany from the area in the EU where the crops are approved for growing.
With the 2015 approved EU law, countries gained a right to ban GMO crops even after they've been approved as safe by the European Commission.
Currently, there is no consensus in Europe on the issue of GMO crops.
Britain partly supports them, whereas France and Germany oppose.
Germany has a general agreement on banning GMOs, which are widely grown in the Americas and Asia.
However, whether federal or state authorities should undertake the bans caused controversies and a long delay in agreeing to the draft law.
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