For two GMOs, Syngenta's BT 11 sweet maize and Monsanto's GA21 maize the EU is ready to propose approval as soon as possible. "It is possible that the Syngenta product could be considered by the relevant regulatory committee before the end of the year," the Commissioner for consumer protection told EU lawmakers on Thursday. However he will require consent of the regulatory committee of the member states. Byrne also defended his proposed Seed Directive to allow for GM contamination in conventional seeds by claiming there was already some GM seed contamination and the EU was too dependent on seed imports.<a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=SPEECH/03/442§0§RAPID&lg=EN" target="blank">Commissioner Byrnes distributed speech in the EP environment committee</a><br><a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3546592" target="blank">Reuters: EU may start to lift GMO ban before year-end</a>