EU Commission Wants End to States' Biotech Ban

The European Commission is pushing for an end of three of its states' genetically modified ban on maize, according to a EU official.

Austria, Luxembourg and Germany currently have a ban on Sygnenta's Bt-176 corn variety. The European Commission says there is no scientific justification for the bans on health and environmental grounds.

EU environment ministers will vote on the bans on Friday, according to Reuters. If the Commission's proposal that the three countries drop the ban isn't approved by a majority of the 25-member bloc, the Commission might end up going to court to get the three states to end the ban.

A quick resolution to the issue is not expected. The EU remains under attack from the United States, Canada and Argentina, which are challenging the EU's biotech policy in the World Trade Organization.