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Opinion and Comment

Nature Biotechnology 26, 1223–1225 (1 November 2008) | doi:10.1038/nbt1108-1223

Coexistence in the EU|[mdash]|return of the moratorium on GM crops?

Yann Devos , Matty Demont & Olivier Sanvido

To the editor: The decision of European Union (EU; Brussels) commissioner for environment, Stavros Dimas, to defer market approvals of maize Bt11 and 1507 against the recommendation of his scientific advisers is an indication that Europe remains in a state of quasi-moratorium regarding the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Here, we outline another challenge that threatens to paralyze the cultivation of GM crops in Europe: regulations on the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops.