EU Ministers on Monday will vote on the approval of a new GM maize (bt 11 of Syngenta), which would be the first approval since 1998 (for food use only not for cultivation however). No majority in favour is expected, yet EU rules will allow the EU Commission to still grant the approval unless a 2/3 majority of the member states rejects the proposal. Environment groups will protest outside the meeting in Luxembourg. "Le Monde" revealed minutes of the french biosafety committee showing that scientists are deeply concerned about the safety of a Monsanto maize. Rats fed with the product showed a "diversity of abnormalities". However, the EU scientific body just cleared it as being safe to eat.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/gp_23_04_04.pdf">Greenpeace Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2004/GR_23_april_bt11.htm">FoE Europe - Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3226,36-362062,0.html">Le Monde: L'évaluation scientifique des risques est opaque, les dossiers parfois incomplets</a></p><p><a href="http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3226,36-362061,0.html">Le Monde: L'expertise confidentielle sur un inquiétant maïs transgénique</a>