These new rules allow members states to decide whether or not they want genetically modified crops (GMO) grown on their land.

"This is in line with the subsidiarity principle and respects citizens' and farmers' preferences", said Janis Duklavs, the Latvian minister for agriculture and President of the Council.

Two options are now available to member states that wish to prohibit the cultivation of a GMO on their land. When a company applies to grow crops on the territory of a member state, the country can ask the applicant to state in their proposal that GMO cannot be grown in all or part of the country. This step can be taken by a member state without providing a reason why it wishes to prohibit or ban the GMO.

If the company refuses to adjust its application according to the request, the second option for the member state is to ban or restrict the cultivation of the crop. However, the country will have to present a reason why the GMO crop cannot be grown. Grounds can range from environmental or agricultural policy objectives to socio-economic impact.

The new rules also state that member states in which GMOs are cultivated must take care to avoid cross-border contamination into neighbouring countries where they are banned. This does not apply if certain conditions make these measures unnecessary.

Under the old rules, member states could only provisionally ban or restrict the use of a GMO on their territory if they had evidence that the organism presented a risk to human health and the environment, or in the case of an emergency.