The EU Council of Agriculture Ministers voted to set an accidental-contamination threshold of 0.9 percent for organic produce, meaning produce can be labeled and sold as organic as long as its GMO content is below 0.9 percent, the Italian news agency ANSA said. Representatives of Italy, Belgium, Hungary and Greece were against extending this limit to organic food.

"The Council of Agriculture Ministers' decision is wrong and damages both organic producers and the rights of consumers," Italian Environment Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio said. "We must see at once what countermeasures the Italian government and parliament can take to protect producers and consumers who want to be sure they are buying GMO-free products."

Sergio Marini, head of Italy's main farmers' association, said the EU decision would damage the public's faith in organic produce.

Italy is home to Europe's largest organic food market and its producer associations have been among the most active in lobbying against the move, ANSA said.