EU postpones decision on genetically modified crops

Europe yesterday delayed deciding whether to allow farmers to grow more genetically modified crops (GM), a move likely to anger some of its top trade partners including the United States, the world's leading GM crop grower.

The EU has not approved any GM crops for growing since 1998.

After hours of debate, the European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry out more work on three biotech crop products whose developers want to grow them in Europe's fields and which EFSA has already cleared.