European Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, John Dalli has accused opponents of his decision to allow cultivation of some genetically-modified potatoes of scaremongering.
He also urged the industry to give more details about their products to address "media imbalance".
Addressing the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, Mr Dalli said he was not for or against GMOs but in favour of science-based policy making.
"It seems that instinctive fear and suspicion has taken hold among European consumers due to scaremongering and a reluctance by industry to explain the science behind their products."
"Lack of action by industry allows scaremongers to monopolise the media, leaving consumers to make decisions based on a one-sided debate," Mr Dalli warned.
"We cannot be responsible for reducing Europe to an innovation backwater," he said.
While Mr Dalli was reading his speech, activists of Greenpeace, which has launched a high-profile campaign targeting the Maltese commissioner for his decision, were outside the EP Chamber distributing a "cookbook" called "GM recipe for disaster" criticising the Commission's decision.
On his exit, Mr Dalli rushed past a Greenpeace "cook", avoiding to get into a debate on the issue with Greenpeace officials.
"As Mr Dalli approached he was all smiles but didn't stop to talk to me about the concerns scientists have over GMOs. It's obvious he gets the joke but, sadly, not the risks that exist with the technology," Jorgo Riss, Greenpeace EU Unit director said after the meeting.
"Mr Dalli said that those opposed to GM are scaremongerers who ignore science. But the EU's own statisticians are telling him that the more people understand GM, the less they want it, and for good reason. Their poll (the Eurobarometer) shows that Malta is a country where people don't know much about the GM issue and are less aware of the risks. In countries where people know more, like France, opposition is almost total," he said.
During his address to MEPs, Mr Dalli also spoke about initiatives he is planning to take in the coming months.
He said the Commission would be tabling a report on animal cloning by the end of this year and planned also to revise tobacco laws and legislation related to veterinary medicine in order to address prevailing shortcomings.
Mr Dalli said he would continue to push for a cross-border healthcare system and would strive to secure political agreement with member states, possibly by this June.