The Official Journal dated March 20, 2007, has published a number of decrees and orders including some on the commercial production of GMOs.  The maize sector thus notes that the provisions of European directive 2001/18 have been transcribed into French law.

The French maize sector
 
→ recalls that in 2004 a best practicesguide for coexistence and traceability of GM and non-GM maize was implemented and complied with the prescribed limit of 0.9%.
 
→ recommends that, in addition to the provisions set out in the guide, and at the request of public authorities:
 
-  the separation distance between GM and non-GM crops should be twice the distance required for coexistence of conventional crops, i.e. 50 metres or 24 rows of non-GM maize maturing at the same time.
-  information should be given to all maize growers whose crops may be near plots of GM maize.   NB:  In the natural environment, maize does not cross-pollinate with any other plant.
 
AGPM has also set up an information and advisory service for maize growers and is in charge of distributing the best practices guide to all relevant parties in the sector.

Contacts :    Pascal HURBAULT, ORAMA, 01 44 31 16 25 
                    Béatrice GUENEBEAUD, AGPM, 01 47 23 48 32
                    Yves BOULAY, 01 53 00 90 00, COOP de France,
                    Kareen DESBOUIS, FNA, 01 44 76 90 40