There is little chance of the request being approved at the moment, since it would effectively end the EU's four-year ban on genetically engineered crops.

The EU ban, introduced because of concerns over the potential dangers to health and the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has angered the EU's trading partners, in particular the United States, which is challenging it before the World Trade Organisation. Monsanto said in October 2003 it was pulling out of the European seed cereal business.

The EU's committee on the dissemination of GMOs in the environment will on Wednesday examine Monsanto's request to import into the bloc its NK 603 variety of maize, which is resistant to the fertiliser Roundup, also developed and marketed by the US agri-food giant.

Although Monsanto had not asked for authorisation to plant the maize in the EU, a spokeswoman for the European Commission -- the bloc's executive branch -- said there were fears it could be put to this use.

"It's a GMO that is imported for processing and could in theory be used as a seed," said Ewa Hedlund, spokeswoman for Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstroem.

Since NK 603 is intended for use in animal feed, it would also need the approval of the EU's committee of foodstuffs experts before it could be imported.

In December the foodstuffs experts, who represent the EU's 15 member states, failed to agree whether to allow Swiss agri-food company Syngenta to put its GM maize BT 11 on the EU market.

That request has now been sent on to EU ministers, who are expected to examine it in the spring. If the demand fails to win the support of a qualified majority of member states, the Commission, which tends to favour such authorisations, will decide.

On Monday environmental groups Greenpeace, Friends fo the Earth and the European Environmental Bureau urged the EU states to reject the request, saying there had been no research on the product's long-term effects on health.

TERRA.WIRE