MONSANTO SUES GERMAN GOVERNMENT OVER BAN OF CORN TRAIT

Monsanto has filed suit against the German government for their decision to ban a genetically modified corn.

MON810 maize, a Bt corn has been approved for animal feed in the European Union since 1998 and in Germany since 2005. But German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner says she has "legitimate reasons" to believe the corn is a threat to the environment and banned its use in her country.

Monsanto says the move is an "arbitrary ban" and in violation of E.U. rules which state a member country can only ban an approved product if new scientific evidence comes to light. France, Austria and Hungary have also banned MON810 saying new evidence does exist but a review by the European Food Safety Authority determined that claim was not legitimate.

The suit was filed in German administrative court.