The European Commission is expected to rule

Date: 05/06/1997

that Austria has no scientific justification for barring imports of a strain of genetically-modified maize developed by Novartis. After three EU committees found the product presented no health risk, imports were permitted late last year. But Austria took advantage of a rule allowing countries to maintain a temporary national ban. New evidence from Vienna has delayed a final decision, but Commission officials suggested this week that Austria would be forced to lift the restrictions.