18/9/ 2006 (AP)  BRUSSELS - EU agriculture ministers on Monday failed to agree on authorizing the use of some biotech rapeseeds which are tolerant to a certain herbicide.

The issue of approval now falls to the EU's executive Commission, which can give the go-ahead, officials said. The three strains of genetically modified rapeseed are produced by the German company Bayer AG and have been used on the U.S. market for several years.

The deadlock during the meeting of EU ministers highlighted the qualms of the 25-nation EU about the use of genetically modified organisms on the European market.

Under EU rules, the commission has the final authority to decide on clearing new biotech crops if member states reach a stalemate.

The EU ended a six-year moratorium on accepting applications for new biotech products in May 2004, introducing strict approval procedures and labeling regulations, but several EU nations remain reluctant to authorize biotech crops because of public health and environmental concerns.