GMOs in the European Union

GMOs in the European Union (EU) describes market for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU, including policies that allow or ban them.

Honey Made with GM-Pollen is Treated as a GMO

In September 2011, "Europe's highest court [the European Court of Justice (ECJ)] ruled that honey contaminated with genetically modified (GM) crops would need full safety approval and would have to be labelled as GM."

"The ECJ ruling was the result of a legal challenge from a German association of beekeepers who took the Bavarian government to court following the contamination of honey from a governmental field trial of Monsanto's maize MON 810 (www.bienen-gentechnik.de).

"The case was forwarded to the European Court of Justice (C-442/09). The European Court of Justice was asked to rule whether honey containing GM-pollen is defined as a GM product and if any trace of a GMO in honey needs an authorisation as a GMO."

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Biotechnology
• Genetic Engineering
• GMO Policies by Country

External articles

• Barbara Casassus, "French Government Defies E.U. Court on GM Maize," Science Insider, September 12, 2011.
• Stephanie Bodoni, "French ban of modified maize dealt blow in court: Monsanto, 10 other companies, challenged action," STLToday.com, September 10, 2011.
• "EU states must tell Brussels of GM bans: court," Expatica.com, September 8, 2011.
• Martin Banks, "Mixed response to ECJ ruling on GM crops," The Parliament, September 8, 2011.
• "Court ruling challenges EU laws on GMO co-existence," EurActiv, September 7, 2011.
• Caroline Henshaw, "Experts say EU hurts self with gene mod rules," Market Watch, September 6, 2011.
• "EU court backs angry honeymaker in GM pollen row," EUBusiness, September 6, 2011.
• Gabriele Steinhauser, "EU court puts limits on modified honey ," Seattle Times, September 6, 2011.