Senate sows seeds of GM ban

Poland's upper house of parliament has passed a bill on banning genetically modified (GM) seeds throughout the country, raising the specter of yet another clash between Warsaw and Brussels.

The proposed ban has already drawn criticism from the European Commission (EC) - the EU executive - for potentially breaking EU regulations, specifically those ensuring a single market within the Union. The EC holds the position that any country banning GM crops must do so only when it is scientifically justified and crop-specific.

The bill passed by the Senate effectively represents a nation-wide blanket ban on all GM crops. It still must be approved by Poland's lower house, the Sejm, and signed by the President before it becomes law.

The bill was pushed through by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) and some smaller parties, who fear contamination of non-GM crops and want to build Poland's image as an environmentally friendly country.

Last year the EU's second-highest court upheld the EC's position, after Brussels blocked an attempt by Austria to create a GM-free zone. The EU has also threatened legal action against Italy for a law passed last year banning GM crops until all of its regions agree on regulations for the technology.

So far, no GM seeds have been planted in Poland, and PiS members have suggested that the government could look to change the bloc's policy on GM crops. (Reuters)