BERLIN (AFP)--U.S. biotech giant Monsanto Co. (MON) said
Wednesday it was considering legal action against Germany's
decision to ban a type of genetically modified maize - MON 810 -
manufactured by the firm.
"Monsanto is examining all available options and reserves the
right to take legal steps so that German farmers can sow MON 810 in
the current season," Ursula Luettmer-Ouazane, head of Monsanto's
German division, said in a statement.
MON 810 is "safe for human health, animals and the environment,
which has been proved by an overwhelming number of scientific
studies," the company said.
On Tuesday, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner told
reporters she was outlawing the cultivation of the MON 810 corn -
modified to be super resistant against crop-destroying insects - on
environmental grounds.
"I have come to the conclusion there are just reasons to assume
that the genetically modified corn MON 810 represents a danger for
the environment," Aigner said.
"Therefore, the cultivation of MON 810 is now banned in
Germany."
The environment ministry had undertaken a "rigorous study to
weigh the pros and cons," she said, adding that "new scientific
elements" had come to light justifying the decision to ban the
crop.
Fields containing genetically modified corn make up just 0.2% of
Germany's total maize-producing land - with only 3,700 hectares
(9,100 acres) of land sown with genetically modified corn.
Monsanto pointed to the fact that the safety of MON 810 has been
demonstrated by the U.S., Japan, Canada and the European
Commission.
"Farmers worldwide have been benefitting from the advantages of
insect-resistant maize for 10 years - and the trend is growing,"
the company said.
Around 125 million hectares contained genetically modified
plants in 2008, a rise of almost 10% on the previous year,
according to statistics from the International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-Biotech.