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Bjerregaard: aware of public concern and debate. Credit: EC

The European Commission is to tighten a directive first issued in 1991 covering the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. Revisions include the compulsory monitoring of products such as transgenic maize for harmful effects for seven years after their approval.

Under the proposed measures, full details of which are to be announced this week, the commission's scientific advisory committees will have to be consulted about all applications for the release of genetically modified organisms. Another provision allows the commission, for the first time, to refer dossiers to its Group of Advisers on the Ethics of Biotechnology (see above).

Ritt Bjerregaard, the environment commissioner, says that the new measures demonstrate that the commission “pays careful attention to public concern and public debate”. The commission has already agreed that all products containing genetically modified organisms should be labelled, and is due to release details of labelling procedures this month.

The proposals, which need the approval of the ministers of the 15 member states of the European Union, are aimed at breaking a deadlock over genetically modified crops. Although last year the union approved modified maize produced by Switzerland's Novartis, imports of the maize have been banned by Austria, Luxembourg and Italy on the grounds that they may pose health risks — a position challenged by the commission and France.

In a related development, the French government last week lifted a ban on the growing of genetically modified maize. But it said that further studies were needed on the production and sale of other crops, such as rapeseed and sugar beet.

Louis Le Pensec, the agriculture minister, said that the ban introduced by the previous government “was not coherent to authorize imports of genetically modified maize while prohibiting cultivation”.