The European Commission has backed a proposal to allow imports of a genetically modified maize.
It is the first step towards lifting the EU's five-year unofficial ban on new GM crops and products.
EU ministers now have three months to consider the proposal to allow imports of the maize, known as Bt11, which is marketed by Swiss agrochemical giant, Syngenta.
If the ministers cannot agree by then, the commission may rubberstamp its own proposal.
