European Court Fines France 10 Million Euros

(CN) – France must pay a lump-sum penalty, the European Court of Justice ruled, after France dragged its feet in regulating genetically modified organisms.     The European Commission required France to pass a law by 2002 regarding the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms.      The French argued that it should not have to pay a penalty for failing to do so, because it did pass such a law this year.     While the Court ruled a penalty payment was unnecessary, the lump sum is appropriate to address France’s delay.     “The court finds the breach is serious, especially in light of its impact on the public and private interests involved,” the Court ruled. The court set the fine at 10 million euros.