the World Trade Organization's (wto's) ruling that the European Union (eu) was not justified in blocking imports of genetically modified (gm) crops has created major problems for the international community. A panel set up under the dispute settlement mechanism of the organisation has sided with Canada, Argentina and the us. It has declared that a ban on import of biotech seeds from companies such as Monsanto without "adequate scientific evidence' of their harm is illegal under the trade body's regulations.

While the eu officials maintain that the ruling will not influence their regulations, it's bound to have far-reaching consequences for, or at least have some influence on, the gm policy and trade of countries ranging from India to Japan and Russia.