Genetically altered potato raises opposition

Amflora potatoes, likely to become the first genetically modified crop in the past decade to be approved for growth in Europe, have become the unlikely poster child in the angry debate over such products on the Continent.

The European Commission now says it will approve the potato "probably this fall,"even though European ministers have twice been deadlocked on approval in the past eight months, with only a minority voting in favor. According to European Union procedures, "the ministers have not been able to take a decision, so we will have to reaffirm our earlier opinion to recommend it,"said Barbara Helferrich, spokeswoman for the European Commission's Environment Directorate.