January 5, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 4, 1426

GENEVA, Jan 4: The World Trade Organization has delayed a decision on the US-led complaint against the European Union over genetically modified (GM) foods for about three months, diplomats said on Wednesday.

The “special group” at the WTO, which was supposed to give its decision last year, indicated its final report on the GM issue would be ready at the latest by the end of March, in order to resolve numerous outstanding questions.

A preliminary confidential report is expected to be sent to the parties concerned in February, according to diplomats, who requested anonymity.

“This case is very complicated, very technical,” one of them said. “It could end up being the biggest report the WTO has ever produced.”

Argentina, Canada and the United States brought the complaint before the international trade group in May 2003, stating that a European moratorium on imports of GM foods was more about business protectionism than concerns about the health of consumers or the environment.—AFP