European representatives of US-based agribusiness Monsanto have caused a stir by admitting to reporters that the company will cease applications for the approval of new genetically modified crop varieties in Europe.

Although GM crops are supported in the UK by government and industry groups such as the NFU, the majority of Europeans remain opposed to the technology and debates over licensing for new crops between EU decision makers have ground to a halt, without a clear majority either for or against GM.

German newspaper Tageszeitung reported last week that Monsanto Europe spokesperson Brandon Mitchener had said the company would not be submitting further GM seeds for approval in Europe or lobbying for their acceptance, due to a lack of support from EU farmers and widespread political opposition.

Ursula Lüttmer-Ouazane, spokesperson for Monsanto Germany, backed up Mithcener's comments. However, both she and the company's UK representative Mark Buckingham said this position is nothing new.

Mr Buckingham told Farming Online, "We're not changing anything. Our EU business has always focused on conventional seeds." He said that the company has long focused on producing conventional varieties using plant breeding technologies for the European market and added that the last UK field trial of GM crops conducted by Monsanto was ten years ago.

Mr Buckingham added "We recognise that it's not economically practical to bring [GM technology] forward in Europe, as the regulatory system here has been politicised and is no longer science-based."

As a result of the stalemate amongst the EU leadership, licensing applications for some varieties of GM have been on hold for several years; the renewal for Monsanto's Yieldgard Maize, currently the only GM crop licensed for cultivation in the EU, has been ongoing since 2007.

Although the Commission denied the approvals process had been 'frozen', in January Health Commission Tonio Borg admitted that no new approvals are expected before 2015. Whilst Yieldgard is licensed for cultivation in Europe, eight of the bloc's 27 member states have implemented bans on the crop; though the legality of these restrictions has been repeatedly challenged, they have strong public support.

Last year, European biotech company BASF announced it would cease its attempts to introduce more GM crops onto the European market and would move its biotech operations to the United States, citing widespread resistance amongst farmers and consumers. BASF also withdrew applications for two GM potato varieties, which were pending at the time of its announcement.

Last week, Monsanto found itself facing pressure in the United States, following the discovery of unlicensed GM wheat growing in an Oregon field. After US officials announced that they had discovered the herbicide-resistant wheat, last trialled in Oregon ten years ago, the EU announced it would be testing shipments entering the bloc, and importers South Korea and Japan announced suspensions of wheat orders.