Plaid Cymru's Leader in the European Parliament, Jill Evans MEP, has welcomed today's decision to maintain Europe's de facto ban on the approval of all GMOs for commercial use. Ms Evans is a leading anti-GM campaigner who had previously called for the moratorium to be maintained.

A specialist committee set up to advise the European Commission reached its decision in Brussels this evening (Wednesday) after several hours of discussions. The final decision had been evenly balanced but the de facto moratorium was maintained when Germany abstained in the vote, meaning that a final majority was not reached.

Speaking shortly after the result was announced, Jill Evans MEP said:

"I'm delighted that the de facto moratorium on growing GM crops for commercial purposes has been maintained in Europe. It was well known that Monsanto was lobbying hard for its genetically modified maize to be approved for commercial use.

“To have approved this would have flown in the face of public opinion which is massively anti-GM. The decision of the UK government to support Monsanto is unforgivable - and a slap in the face for Welsh consumers who have consistently demonstrated their opposition to GM foods."

Note: A specialist committee of European environment experts set up to advise the European Commission today decided not to adopt a draft Commission decision to approve Monsanto's NK603 genetically modified maize for marketing. The maize is modified to increase its tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate but a necessary qualified majority could not be reached when Germany abstained - the UK voted in favour.

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