THE divide between Europe and the US widened last week when the Bush administration filed an action at the World Trade Organization to force the European Union to lift its ban on growing and importing genetically modified crops. The “moratorium”, argues the US, violates WTO rules and is not based on sound science.
As with so many political disputes, the truth is not so clear-cut. The EU, it is true, did not approve any new GM crops between 1998 and December 2002. But this was because it was updating its approval process. Under the new system, companies selling any GM…
