The European Commission decided on 2nd September to turn down GMO-free zones as it rejected a request from the Upper Austrian regional Government to ban the use of genetically engineered seeds.
The Austrians (supported by Wales and a few local authorities in the west of England) had asked permission from Brussels to introduce a three-year long ban on GMO-seeds as the coexistence between GM and non-GM methods of agricultural production are not fully resolved.
The Commission then consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which issued an opinion that ruled out the GMO-free zones plans.
The Commission finally concluded that such a ban would be in breach of the EU Treaty and could not even be allowed under the special environment protection clause, under Article 95(5).
Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said that “it is possible to find a viable response within the existing legal framework”.
Greenpeace thinks that Austria should not fear bringing the case to the European Court of Justice.