France halts Monsanto maize planting

FranceFrance banned the planting of Monsanto maize on Saturday, ahead of a vote at the National Assembly to impose a wide-sweeping ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), reports RFI.

Paris maintains that GM maize crops present serious environmental risks, but has lost two attempts to outlaw their use.

French farmers will no longer be able to plant seeds from the maize line MON 810, as of Saturday. A new decree prevents Monsanto maize from being grown as a measure of precaution.

Fresh scientifc evidence has revealed that the planting of genetically modified maize from the US agro-chemical giant could pose serious risks to the environment. 

French authorities have been trying to establish a new ban on GM corn after a senior court twice struck down previous attempts.
Read more of this report from RFI.