Euro parliament votes on GM foods

The European Parliament has approved new regulations on the marketing and production of genetically modified organisms within the European Union.

Under the new law, the potential risk of any new GM product will have to be assessed.

Biotechnology companies will also be required to monitor continuously the effect of GM crops on human health and the environment.

The vote paves the way for the EU to lift its moratorium on licensing new GM products.

The new law will not be in place for a number of months and many EU countries still oppose its introduction.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service