'Mad Cow' fallout hits corn

The European Community provided a reminder last week of the perils of a politicized regulatory process. In a first round of voting by the EC's Environmental Committee, Ciba Seed's genetically engineered corn, which contains a Bacillus thuringiensis gene as a biopesticide, was turned down in its application for European approval. Well, not exactly turned down. A simple majority voted in favor of approval, but under the rules, that wasn't enough.

The marketing application now will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers, where the same vote would be sufficient for approval...