The French Council of State [Conseil d’État] has turned down the application made by AGPM, the General Association of Maize Growers and member of ORAMA, to suspend the decision banning the production of MON810 Bt maize.  The judge ruling on the application used the complexity of the regulations as a shield to avoid a situation that might cast doubt on the ministerial decree, even though it is clearly of an illegal nature.  The judge thus gave no consideration to the urgency of the matter which had been presented as a further argument by the maize growers because of the negative impact.  Just as sowing is about to begin, such negative effects on finances, plant health and the environment are very real indeed.

  The decision is cause for concern and has raised many questions, particularly given that the poor legal arguments presented by the Ministry of Agriculture at the hearing on March 17 could be seen as evidence of the illegal nature of the decree.
 
However, as the judge has decided that it should be so, no MON810 Bt maize will be grown in France this year, thus depriving French maize growers of their freedom of choice.  At the same time, it will still be possible to import the same maize plus some ten other varieties of GM maize, without any reservations or restrictions applying, and these can be fed to our livestock.
 
AGPM and maize growers are convinced that, even aside from the application made, such inconsistency and such disregard for the substantial issues involved, plus the economic damage incurred, will be recognised in law by the Council of State in the judgement on the merits to be made within the next few months.
 
Contacts:    Pascal HURBAULT, AGPB -   01 44 31 16 25
                   Anne KETTANEH, AGPM -  01 44 31 10 96