French lawmakers propose new law to ban all GM maize varieties

(http://www.reuters.com) Last week, a French politician submitted a draft law that would prohibit the cultivation of any genetically modified maize in the country.

France previously banned the cultivation of Monsanto's MON 810 GM, the only GM crop allowed to be grown in the European Union, but that ban was overturned by the country's highest administrative court as lacking sufficient scientific grounds. The new law would ban any future GM crops as well, including Pioneer 1507, a modified maize variety that is currently going through the EU's approval voting process.

A French farm ministry official said the proposed legislation could be voted on by the Senate as early as February 17. If passed, the ban would be monitored by inspectors, and GM crops would be destroyed.