US President George W. Bush has renewed his criticism of European nations for refusing to accept genetically modified foods and said the ban was contributing to famine in Africa.
"Acting on unfounded, unscientific fears, many Europeangovernments have blocked the import of all new biotech crops," Mr Bush told a biotechnology conference today.
"Because of these artificial obstacles, many African nations avoid investing in biotechnology, worried that their products will be shut out of important European markets."
Last week, a final round of negotiations between the US and the European Union failed. The US administrationsaid it would ask the World Trade Organization to overturn Europe's ban on new biotech foods and other goods.
"For the sake of a continent threatened by famine, I urge the European governments to end their opposition tobiotechnology. We should encourage the spread of safe,effective biotechnology to win the fight against globalhunger," Mr Bush said.
An initial WTO ruling in the case could come next spring.
The European Commission had tried to repeal the moratorium on biotech foods, with officials publicly fretting about ceding a burgeoning biotech industry to the US.
But with consumer sentiment in many European countries running high against biotech foods, it has failed so far.