year moratorium on accepting applications for new genetically modified foods in May 2004, under strict approval procedures and labeling regulations, but several EU nations remain reluctant to authorize biotech crops because of public health and environmental concerns. The move is certain to anger certain countries, which remain vehemently opposed to the introduction of new biotech products. Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Greece invoked safety clauses in June to keep bans in place on a range of biotech crops already approved for use in Europe. Failure to lift the bans has upset the United States, which launched a World Trade Organization complaint against the EU's biotech import ban in 2003. A WTO panel is to release a preliminary ruling on the case this month. Environmentalist group Friends of the Earth condemned Monday's decision. "The Commission has ignored serious concerns raised by member states over the safety of GMOs," said Helen Holder of Friends of the Earth, who called on EU governments to use their September meeting to block Monsanto's bid "once and for all."
