The French Farm and Environment ministries announced that they would use the European Union’s opt-out scheme to ensure France’s ability to prohibit the production of genetically modified (GM) crops. In March 2015, the EU agreed on an opt-out scheme that permits EU countries to exclude themselves from requests for GM cultivation. The only GM crop currently grown in Europe is Monsanto maize, produced in Spain and Portugal. Other crops are being reviewed for approval by the EU. Prior to France’s statement, Monsanto GM maize was banned domestically, and France had passed legislation that banned growth of GM crops. Germany also plans to use the opt-out rule to prohibit the cultivation of GM products. For the full story, see http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/17/us-france-gmo-idUKKCN0RH1BV20150917