Germany to Join Other European Countries in Ban Against Monsanto’s Genetically Modified MON 810 Corn

In the European Union, there is only one permissible genetically-modified crop — and that is Monsanto’s MON 810 engineered corn.  But current law allows individual countries to bar the production of genetically-modified crops, and the MON 810 ban has been gaining momentum throughout the continent. This is despite the European Union’s continuous fight to force GM production, such as in the recent failed attempt to overturn Austria and Hungary’s ban.

Late last month, Luxembourg joined Hungary, France, Austria and Greece in banning Monsanto’s corn.  According to Luxembourg’s Health Minister Mars Di Bartolomeo, studies addressing the grain’s safety have failed to “conclude that MON810 is completely innocuous”.

Yesterday, Germany brought the number of dissenting countries to six by also banning MON 810.  German Agriculture Minister, Ilse Aigner, went a step beyond Luxembourg’s position, and stated outright that she feels “there are just reasons to assume that the genetically modified maize MON 810 represents a danger for the environment.”

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Not surprisingly, Monsanto disagrees.  Brad Mitchell, Monsanto spokesperson, said that the company was “disappointed and frankly, we don’t believe that they [Germany] have justification to warrant this.” He went on to argue that studies in the European Union had already proven MON 810’s safety.

While it’s true that the European Food Safety Authority originally gave the go ahead on MON 810’s production, it’s also true that the European Union is currently re-examining that decision, particularly focusing on any negative long-term effects the genetically modified crop might have.

Monsanto continues to insist the corn itself is safe. German Monsanto head Ursula Luettmer-Ouazane added that the corn is “safe for human health, animals and the environment.”  But that doesn’t jive with a recent study out of Austria, which showed mice who were fed Monsanto’s genetically-engineered corn demonstrated measurably damaged fertility.

That doesn’t sit well with Ilse Aigner, Germany’s Agriculture Minister.  “Genetic engineering must include a complete guarantee of the security for person, animal, plant and environment”, she declared.

And in light of current data, such a guarantee does not exist.

RELATED: EU Upholds Austria, Hungary’s Right to Ban Genetically Modified MON 810 Maize

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Image via tillwe on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

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