UPDATE 1-Italy calls for review of EU biofuels target

(Adds detail, background)

By Francesco Guarascio

LUXEMBOURG, June 6 (Reuters) - European Union plans to get 10 percent of its transport fuel from renewable sources such as biofuels were questioned on Friday as Italy became the first EU member to call publicly for a review.

Biofuels have come under attack by many scientists and environmental groups who contend that their production has depleted rainforests, contributed to rising food prices and failed to save substantial greenhouse gas emissions.

"Europe has to be realistic. We must be realistic," Italian Economic Development Minister Claudio Scajola told a news conference on the margins of a meeting of EU energy ministers.

"We took with too much haste the decision on an objective that is not reachable," he added.

Other states have raised concerns about biofuels, but Italy was the first to call openly for an EU review.

A paper circulated by the Slovenian EU presidency a few days before the meeting in Luxembourg showed member states remained a long way from agreeing rules to prevent fuels such as biodiesel doing more harm than good in fighting climate change.

While no member state has yet proposed dropping the goal of securing 10 percent of transport fuel from renewable sources such as biofuels by 2020, many want to make the binding nature of this target conditional on strict standards.