France: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
Although public opinion in France is generally opposed to products derived from biotechnology, the livestock industry is dependent upon imported genetically engineered (GE) products to meet its feed needs. France has no commercial production or field trials of GE crops, but some laboratory research is being conducted in the country. The French administration has no official position yet on the way innovative biotechnologies should be regulated but they are active on this subject. The seed industry and the main farm organizations have developed a detailed position in favor of innovative biotechnologies, while anti-biotech groups have conducted a few actions against them. Public awareness is low. As for animal biotechnology, it is mainly used for medical research purposes.
