Laws & Politics
Romania reconsiders its stand on genetically modified corn
By Sue Mueller
Apr 2, 2008 - 9:36:55 AM

WEDNESDAY April 2, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Romania has been one of the most receptive markets for genetically modified crops, but the environment minister said the country is reconsidering its stand on genetically modified (GM) corn, iht.com reported.

Attila Korodi, the environment minister said he would ask a committee of experts Thursday to re-assess a GM corn, MON810 that is produced by Monsanto Company, the only genetically modified crop that has been approved for commercial planting in the Europe.

Korodi said no enough studies had been conducted to gauge the effects of this crop on ecological systems in Romania.

Also, he said, banning genetically modified crops could increase rural prosperity by allowing farmers to grow and produce organic feed and foodstuffs to meet a growing global demand.

In the United States, 45 percent of corn acreage was for genetically modified corn in 2004, according to The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.  Critics said the safety of GM corn along with other GM crops has not been adequately evaluated.

Read iht.com for more details on the story.