November 22, 2006	Wednesday	Shawwal 29, 1427

GENEVA, Nov 21: The European Union said on Tuesday it will not appeal a World Trade Organisation ruling that partially condemned the bloc for its moratorium on imports of genetically modified organisms.

The complaint was brought by the United States, Canada and Argentina in 2003, and charged that the EU’s ban on GMO imports was motivated more by protectionism than environmental or health concerns.

The EU lifted its overall moratorium in 2004, thus escaping WTO condemnation, but six individual member states kept the restrictions in place.

In a statement submitted to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body, the EU said that “despite many reservations as to the argumentation and conclusions of the panel report, the EC has decided not to appeal.”—AFP