That's known as co-decision, but in the case of genetically-modified food it has led to an impasse.

BBC: News | The Economy | Genetically modified decisions

Their work has covered several policy areas, including environmental taxation, the politics of genetically-modified food, and the effectiveness of global environmental agreements.

BBC: UK lags on riding 'green wave'

It is also expect to lead or share policy on food poisoning organisms, animal feed, food hygiene, genetically-modified food and other novel processes.

BBC: 'GM safe' says food agency boss

But many argue that genetically-modified food is simply unnecessary.

BBC: The power of genes

The chances are that today you have already eaten a genetically-modified foodstuff or a food that was made with a modified organism.

BBC: The power of genes

Now Mr. Goldberg is in the process of getting all his snacks certified as free of genetically modified material, part of his quest to scrub away the junk-food taint.

WSJ: Creating: A Daring Designer of Snazzy Snacks

Nor have smaller firms been much impressed by the recent bungling in America by Aventis, a Franco-German group whose genetically modified maize has mysteriously found its way into the human food chain.

ECONOMIST: Biotechnology

National food-industry associations in several European countries are calling for voluntary labelling of any food containing a genetically modified ingredient.

ECONOMIST: Marketing weird stuff: I’m modified, buy me | The