Germany bans Monsanto's maize

Germany outlawed the cultivation of MON 810 maize - the only genetically-modified (GM) crop permitted until now in the country - on environmental and health grounds.

Germany is the sixth EU country to introduce a provisional ban on MON 810 produced by US biotech giant Monsanto, following similar action taken by France, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg and Greece.

The European Commission sought to force Austria and Hungary to reverse their bans on the crop but its ruling was overturned by a majority of EU nations last month.

The German ban might bring a revision of the European legislation on GM crops.

Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said last Wednesday the European Union would "reflect" on Germany's decision.

"We will reflect on the issue and we should take the right decision," Dimas said after an informal meeting of EU ministers for the environment in Prague.