[img_assist|nid=239|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]On 13 November 2008, the Dutch parliament decided that the agricultural minister Verburg should vote against the approval of the herbicide-tolerant soy MON89788 at the next Council Meeting of the EU agricultural ministers. Reasons are especially the failure of EFSA to consider long-term effects of GM crops.
In general The Netherlands are very much in favour of the GM crops, but in this case even two motions were put forward: one by the Socialist Party asking for a no-vote from Verburg, another one from the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, both of which are in the government coalition asking either for a no-vote or postponing a vote.
Update 19 November: After consulting the rest of the Dutch government, who is notoriously pro-GM, the Dutch agricultural minister Verburg decided to ignore the motion. On 19 November she voted in favour of the approval of MOn89788 soy. The decision failed to get a qualified majority, so it is now up to the EU Commission to take a decision.
Update 4 December: The EU Commission gave approval for the import and food/feed use of the GM soy.