EU Publishes Draft Directive Allowing Member States to Ban GMOs

At the request of 13 member states, the Council of the European Union (EU)
has adopted a draft directive granting its member states “more flexibility to
decide whether or not they wish to cultivate genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) on their territory.” In a July 23, 2014, press release, the council states
that it sought “to provide a sound legal basis in the related EU legal framework
in order to allow member states to restrict or prohibit the cultivation, in
all or part of their territory, of GMOs that have been authorised or are under
authorisation at the EU level.” The measure was originally proposed in 2009
but stalled after a 2011 draft; in June 2014, the EU Environmental Council
reached a political agreement that led to this draft directive, which the council
projects will be adopted in 2015. See Law360, July 23, 2014.

Issue 531