BRUSSELS - EU ministers failed to reach a majority on Monday to approve applications for importing a genetically modified rapeseed and carnation flower, paving the way for a default approval by the EU executive, officials said.
The rapeseed, developed by Germany's Bayer CropScience to resist certain glufosinate-ammonium herbicides and known by its codename T25, was discontinued from commercial planting after the 2005 season.
Only a small stock of the rapeseed remains, in Canada, and could be exported to EU markets if approval is granted.
Bayer's application for EU approval is for use in food and feed, not for cultivation in Europe's fields. It will now return to the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, most probably for a default approval in the coming weeks.
At a meeting of EU agriculture ministers, 12 countries voted in favor, 14 against and one -- Ireland -- abstained. Under the EU's weighted system, it was enough to secure a majority opinion either to approve or reject Bayer's application.
Under EU rules, the EU's executive European Commission now gains the legal power to issue a default authorization. Since 2004, the Brussels-based Commission has approved a string of GM products, nearly all maize, in this way, outraging green groups.
A second GM import application, for distribution and retailing of the Moonaqua carnation as cut flowers for ornamental use, saw a similar outcome, although officials were not immediately able to give a country voting breakdown.
The flowers are marketed by Australian company Florigene, one of Australia's first biotech companies and part of Japan's privately owned Suntory group, and genetically modified for a light mauve color.
Other Florigene carnation varieties -- Moondust, Moonshadow and Moonlite -- have already won EU import approval.
Moonaqua carnations are modified for flower color, a shade of light mauve, whereas the non-GM parent plant has cream-white flowers. Two genes are introduced to create blueberry, blackcurrant and red grape colors. The flowers are also modified to resist certain herbicides.
According to its website, Florigene developed the world's first blue-colored carnation in 1994 and devotes much research on developing flowers that lack the blue color, specifically roses, carnations and chrysanthemums.
(Reporting by Jeremy Smith; editing by James Jukwey)
© Thomson Reuters 2009
