France’s agricultural ministry on Saturday banned the sale, use and cultivation of Monsanto’s genetically modified maize MON 810, after France highest court twice previously struck down similar measures.

Currently the MON 810 is the only insect-resistant maize authorized in the EU. But France insists that GM crops pose significant environmental risks. The current socialist government of Francois Hollande, like the conservative one before it, has opposed supporting GM crops in light of public suspicion and protests from environmentalists and farmers.

The decree by the agricultural ministry is timed to prevent farmers being able to sow GM maize before a draft law is debated on April 10, which will seek to permanently ban the planting of any genetically modified crops. Maize is sown in France in the second half of March.

“The sale, use and cultivation of varieties of maize seed from the line of genetically modified maize MON 810 is banned in the country until the adoption, on the one hand, of a final decision, and secondly, of [EU] community action,” said the statement, which was published Saturday.

The Ministry of Agriculture considered that emergency legislation was needed, “given the proximity of the beginning of the planting season.”

Earlier, EU countries failed to agree on whether to approve a variety of GM maize, Pioneer 1507, produced by DuPont and DowChemical.

FULL STORY: http://rt.com/news/france-gm-maize-ban-134/