The European Commission lifted the ban on genetically modified organisms at a meeting this morning.
The move ends a five-year ban on the marketing of GMOs in Europe, despite strong opposition from environmental groups.
Sweetcorn which has been genetically modified to be resistant to insects and herbicides can now go on sale in supermarkets.
Known as Bt11, it was already authorised for import into Europe but in the form of oil and derived products. The commission go-ahead allows it to be marketed in tinned form, labelled 'produced from GMOs'.
The EU's Irish Commissioner, David Byrne, has been central to developments on GMOs, arguing that Europe should provide a proper health and safety standard on their introduction.
He said GM sweetcorn has been subject to the most rigorous pre-marketing assessment in the world. Food safety is therefore not an issue, he said, it is a question of consumer choice.
Mr Byrne said the EU has put in place a clear, transparent and stringent system to regulate genetically modified food, feed and plants over the past four years.
But environmental groups have said scientists cannot agree on the safety of GMOs and that 70% of European consumers reject them.
‘GM Free Ireland’, a network of groups opposed to modified products, has described today’s move as a ‘foot in the door’ for the legalisation of GM crops.
Spokesman Michael O'Callaghan said his network believes there is serious evidence of health and environment risks from GMOs. He also said it is ‘slightly eerie’ that there is so much silence in the Irish media about the issue.
