France maintains ban on Monsanto's GM maize

The French government has said it will maintain a temporary national ban on sales of the MON 810 variety of GM maize after the European food safety authority (Efsa) called the ban "unjustified" last week (EED 31/10/08).  Paris said it will try to win the support of the council of ministers.  Efsa's opinion is only one stage of the EU process for approving national bans, it said.  EU ministers want to strengthen risk assessment rules for GM crops, it added (EED 21/10/08).  See press release (in French).