April 13, 2000 / Reuters
VIENNA -- Elisabeth Sickl, Austrian minister in charge of food safety and
inspection, was cited as saying on Thursday that the country banned imports
of Aventis' genetically-modified maize on the grounds there were no
available studies on the long-term impact the crop would have on the
environment, adding, "Austria is no laboratory and it is of utmost concern
that we maintain Austria as a provider of produce of the highest quality for
the whole European market."
Greenpeace's Susanne Fromwald was cited as welcoming the ban on French group
Aventis' Zea Mays L. T25 and urged the minister to forbid all problematic
genetically altered plants, adding, "This import ban can only be seen as a
first step," while cautioning that Europe may soon be swamped by more gene
licences.
(posted without permission)
