Around the World: European Union

France fined $13 million

An EU court has ordered France to pay a euro10 million ($12.85 million) fine over a six-year refusal to implement European rules on growing genetically altered crops.

France had repeatedly refused to apply a 2002 EU law that set out rules by which biotech crops could be planted in areas where other conventional crops were grown. France argued it could not adopt the rules because of violent anti-GMO demonstrations. The EU court rejected those arguments. France has applied the law since July.