BERLIN, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- After months of wrangling, the German federal government has reached a consensus on a genetic engineering law that will allow genetically-modified (GM) food to be grown and sold in Germany.

    The bill is meant to establish a framework for farmers who want to grow GM crops as well as to ensure that consumers will be able to choose whether they want to buy the foods, which have generatedconsiderable controversy and debate across Europe.

    "We have come to an agreement," said Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Minister Renate Kuenast to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper."The law will be passed by the cabinet in February."

    The draft requires that all GM foods be clearly labeled. But consumers could still be left in the dark if the genetically-modified elements can no longer be detected -- as could be the case in animals that have been fed GM foods.

    "I reckon that, at the latest, genetically modified corn will appear on European supermarket shelves in the autumn," Kuenast said.

    The European Union, not the individual countries, is responsible for authorizing GM products for sale among member states.

    Kuenast said she expected the EU to approve a GM corn variety for sale for the first time in the summer.

    The new legislation comes in response to a European Parliament law passed in July that effectively lifted a five-year moratorium on the sale of GM foods in Europe as long as they are properly labeled.

    Kuenast emphasized that she does not see a necessity for GM food, adding that German businesses are skeptical about selling the products.

    So far, there is no scientific evidence that genetically modified foods are dangerous to people's health. But that has donelittle to close a gap in thinking between Americans and Europeans over bio-engineered crops and food.

    GM technology is generally viewed with skepticism in Europe andnumerous surveys show that health and environmentally-conscious consumers tend to question the food on their plate before swallowing it.

    European environmentalists have repeatedly voiced concern aboutthe health risks and the threat to the environment and say not enough independent studies have been conducted to prove the gene-altering technology is safe.

    The EU imposed a moratorium on the farming and import of GM foods and grains in 1998 due to safety concerns. Except for the import of approved strains of GM corn and soybeans for use in foodproducts, EU states banned most GM crops. It has also restricted GM field trials. Enditem