Sep 6, 2010, 14:25 GMT
Brussels - The German biotech giant BASF is set to be summoned to Brussels to explain how a not-yet authorized variety of its genetically modified crops (GM) was planted in Sweden, the European Commission said Monday.
Over the weekend, environmental lobby group Greenpeace publicised the discovery by Swedish authorities of GM potato fields managed by a BASF subsidiary where the 'illegal' Amadea-type seed had been mixed with the EU-approved Amflora-tpye seed.
'The commission will ask this afternoon the company concerned to come to Brussels to explain,' commission spokesman Frederic Vincent said.
Vincent said the EU executive would also be in contact with officials from Sweden, as well as from Germany and the Czech Republic, where other Amadea GM potato fields were allegedly discovered.
'Obviously there was a mistake, a blunder took place,' the official added.
Greenpeace also complained that Sweden ordered BASF to remove the Amadea seeds, but allowed for the Amflora plants to stay despite the contamination.
'The Swedish authorities should order all plants in the contaminated fields destroyed and BASF should test all Amflora fields and destroy all plants where contamination has occurred,' said the lobby's agriculture expert Stefanie Hundsdorfer.
GM crops are one of the most controversial issues within the EU. Current rules say that if member states are unable to find a clear majority either in favour or against their cultivation, the commission can settle the issue.
In March the EU executive authorised cultivation of the Amflora potato, ending the bloc's de facto 12-year freeze on GM crop. But in April it followed up with a proposal to leave future decisions in the hands of member states.
Your Talkback on this Story