The European Commission proposed on Wednesday a new law allowing individual countries-EU member States to restrict or prohibit the import of genetically modified crops even if they have been approved by the unit.

Proposal regarding GM crops in food and feed, upset trading partners, especially the United States, which wants Europe has opened its doors to American GM crops as part of a planned agreement EU-US free trade.

U.S. trade representative expressed its disappointment, saying that this will split the European Union on 28 separate markets for certain products and that such a proposal to curb trade action is not constructive.

The proposal also drew criticism organizations for the protection of the environment, who fear that the new rules do not provide the legal basis for national governments to crack, opening up the possibility of lawsuits from companies, biotechnology or the United States.

The Commission said that member States that decide to abandon GMOs, will have to justify its decision, citing problems of public health or the environment dealt with at the EU level.

The new law will reflect the legislation, signed last month by the European Parliament, regarding the cultivation of GM crops in the European Union, giving member States a similar right to refuse.

Widespread in the Americas and Asia, GM crops divided Europe into two camps. The UK broadly supports them, while France is among the countries that oppose.

Currently in Europe only grow one variety of GM maize Monsanto MON810 in Spain and Portugal.

However, in the European Union 58 GM crops approved for use in feed and food products, the Commission stated.

In practice it is difficult to find in the sale of GM foods for human consumption, but approximately 60% of the EU demand for vegetable proteins for cattle is satisfied by imports of soybeans and meal from countries where the cultivation of GMOs is widespread.

The biotechnology industry and the United States has repeatedly complained that, despite a clear process for the approval of GM products in Europe, they are blocked.