The fact is that in France the production of GMO crops is not allowed, only some GMO crops can be used in the European Union.

Since traces of GMO cultivated in Canada were found in seeds sold to French and German farmers, these crops were destroyed. However, a Bayer spokeswoman said this figure reached 18,000 hectares as a result of the careless export of crops, where traceability of GMO seed origin was in question.

Reuters also said that 2150 hectares of rapeseed were destroyed in Germany. This is below the initial pollution estimates, which ranged from 2500 to 3000 ha. Crops were destroyed before flowering in order to avoid the spread of GMO varieties.

Bayer offered compensation to farmers for crop loss. Farmers were also asked not to grow crops next year to avoid the emergence of new plants in the new season.

On July 25 last year, the European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that genetically modified crops should be regulated in the same way as regular genetically modified organisms (GMOs).