Germany Wants to Ban Monsanto Corn

St. Louis Business Journal - by Kelsey Volkmann

Germany plans to ban the use and sale of genetically modified corn from Monsanto Co., alleging it is harmful to wildlife.

France, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Luxembourg have already banned Monsanto’s MON 810 corn despite its approval by the European Union. The corn is resistant to the corn borer, which damages crops.

"We are disappointed and frankly, we don’t believe that they have justification to warrant this," Brad Mitchell, a Monsanto spokesman, told the Business Journal. "They have cited unconvincing evidence that it is unsafe for aquatic organisms. But the scientific committee of the European Union approved it."

Mitchell said the biotech giant was still exploring all its options, including seeking an injunction to stop the ban.

"German farmers should have a right to plant this, and many of them were already planning to," he said.

Mitchell could not immediately provide the dollar amount for the company's annual corn seed sales in Germany.

Creve Coeur, Mo.-based Monsanto (NYSE: MON), led by Chairman and Chief Executive Hugh Grant, makes seeds and insect- and herbicide-resistant crops. It is one of the largest employers in St. Louis with 4,000 local employees.