The European Union has delayed until next spring a vote on the limits on the amount of genetically modified organisms allowed in cereal and vegetable seeds.


The European Commission had proposed labelling seeds that contained between 0.3% and 0.7% GM material, depending on the crop. The biotech industry complained that the low level was too restrictive, while environmental campaign groups felt the level was too generous, reported Dow Jones International News.


Greenpeace is calling for a threshold of 0.1% GMOs, while US biotech companies such as Monsanto want a threshold higher than 0.7%. The difference of opinion has led to the decision to delay the vote while limits are agreed.