Monsanto sues Germany over seed ban

Monsanto is suing the German government over the banning of the company’s MON810 maize, which is genetically engineered to produce the bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is toxic to the maize borer pest.
The genetically modified (GM) maize has been permitted in Europe since 1998 for animal feed. But German agriculture minister Ilse Aigner said she has legitimate reasons to block plans for 3 598ha to be planted to GM maize for this summer’s harvest.
“My decision is not a political one, it’s a decision based on the facts,” she said. “I have come to the conclusion there is a justifiable reason to believe genetically modified maize of the type MON810 presents a danger to the environment.”
Monsanto reacted by filing a suit in the Administrative Court in Braunschweig. Germany points to EU law which it said allows member states to impose a GM ban. However, Monsanto countered that once a plant has been approved, it can only be banned if new evidence surfaces.
MON810 is already banned in Austria, Hungary, Greece, France and Luxembourg. France instituted the ban last year, claiming new scientific evidence cast doubt over the safety of maize MON810, but the European Food Safety Authority said the new information did not invalidate previous risk assessments.
Monsanto said there have been no ill effects from the maize since it was approved for cultivation in Europe more than a decade ago. – Alan Harman