Poland bans cultivation of GM crops

Poland has become eighth EU member state to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as safe. This would affect two crops, which are at the moment authorised for cultivation in the EU: Monsanto’s MON810 maize and BASF’s Amflora potato. A decision to this end will enter into force on 28 January.

Warsaw has invoked a ‘safeguard clause’ that allows individual member states to ban the cultivation of GM crops provided they prove that these may be harmful.