The Italian government has asked the European Commission to reject the renewal of a controversial genetically modified maize variety.

The MON 810 maize is the only GM crop currently licensed for cultivation in the EU. The maize, owned by agri-business Monsanto, is sold as Yieldgard.

It is mostly grown in Spain, though its cultivation has been banned by the governments of France, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Luxembourg and, most recently, Poland.

On Thursday, news agency AFP reported that the Italian government had requested the EU Commission reject Monsanto's application to renew licence on the maize in a letter seen by the agency. The renewal has been on hold for six years due to the stale-mate over GM crops within the EU.

The Italian government cited environmental reasons for calling for a ban and asked that the Commission suspend authorisation to grow the maize across all EU states.

In January, health commissioner Tonio Borg denied that the EU approvals process for GM crops has been 'frozen', but acknowledged that no new varieties of GM crops are likely to be licensed before 2015.