It has been confirmed that France will extend its moratorium on the cultivation of Monsanto's genetically-modified (GM) MON810 corn within its borders, despite a recent ruling by the French Council of State that the longstanding ban violates European Union (EU) law. As reported in a recent AFP article translated into English by GMWatch.org, French Head of State Francois Hollande made an official public announcement that the moratorium will, indeed, be extended in order to ensure the integrity of the nation's agricultural system.

France first enacted a temporary ban on MON810 more than six years ago, citing an array of environmental threats posed by the untested "Frankencorn." The decision came after the European Commission (EC), of which France is a member, failed to suspend approval of the crop after studies had shown that the transgenic corn carries with it "important risks" to the environment.