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German Government Still Undecided On GMO Stance

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German Government Still Undecided On GMO Stance

Germany's coalition government is still mulling over potential policy changes which would restrict genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and there prevalence in food production.

Speaking to the daily newspaper Tagesspiegel, Germany's Minister for Agriculture Christian Schmidt indicated that the coalition has still to decide on what kind of policy to adopt. 

The European Union is moving towards an opt-out policy in which individual countries will decide whether they approve GMO crop cultivation, Schmidt told Tagesspiegel.

"I support this approach, but inside the government we are still deciding," Schmidt said.

Currently the EU has the power to approve GMO crops for Europe-wide cultivation.

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"One thing is clear: Our citizens do not want genetically-modified plants in the fields and want no gene-technology products on shop shelves," Schmidt told the newspaper.

"Europe lives from the principle of solidarity. When the citizens of different regions do not want genetically-modified organisms, there must be allowances made for this. This does not weaken Europe, it strengthens the people."

On Feb. 5, Germany's government abstain in a EU vote to approve cultivation of the new Pioneer 1507 GMO maize.

© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine by Enda Dowling

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