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France has announced today that it is imposing a new temporary ban on Monsanto’s MON810 maize in the interests of protecting the environment.

The announcement comes from French Agricultural Minister Bruno Le Maire who said the decision was a “precautionary measure.”

The move restates a 2008 ban, which was overturned by the country’s highest court in November.

Last month France asked the European regulators to suspend the authorization to plant Monsanto’s genetically modified MON810 corn saying the decision was based on studies showing GM crops “pose significant risks for the environment.”

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According to the official statement from the government on the ban of the cultivation of MON810, the Minister of Agriculture decided to take the conservative measure on the temporary ban of maize MON810 today due to the closeness of the sowing season in order to protect the environment.