European Justice supports banning GMO cultivation in a member state under certain conditions

The Court of Justice of the European Union endorsed on Thursday the possibility of banning the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the territory of a Member State provided that certain conditions are met. The court based in Luxembourg thus endorsed, in this way, the legality of Italy's veto on the cultivation of MON 810 corn, agreed upon through a procedure that allows the European Commission, at the request of an EU country, to restrict the authorized area for the cultivation of a GMO, with the tacit consent of the authorization holder. This matter reached the EU court when an Italian farmer planted genetically modified corn (MON 810), despite the fact that this crop is prohibited in Italy. The Italian authorities ordered the farmer to destroy the plants and imposed fines totaling 50,000 euros. The affected farmer appealed to the Italian Justice system, and those tribunals in turn addressed the European court with several prejudicial questions, to clarify ...