The EU has opened up the possibility of increased use of genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe.
Only one type of maize, MON 810, is currently allowed to be grown commercially in the EU although some countries ban it.
But a new law will give countries more flexibility in deciding to grow such crops.
At the same time, EU scientists will continue to play a key role in authorisations.
The new law applies only to crops and does not cover GM used in animal feed, which can still enter the human food chain indirectly.
It also allows national governments to ban GM varieties and to cite reasons this, such as protecting a particular ecosystem or the high cost of contamination by GM crops for traditional farmers.
GM crops are grown extensively in the US, Asia and Latin America, but Europeans have been wary. Europe’s largest grower of MON810 is Spain where 137,000 hectares are cultivated, forming just 1.56% of the EU’s total maize-growing land.
MON 810 is marketed by US biotech giant Monsanto and is modified to be resistant to the European corn borer, a damaging insect pest.
The maize variety is banned in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg.
The UK government is among several countries, including Spain and Sweden, which have pressed for the easing of the EU's GM rules.
