Print

The European Parliament has rejected plans by the European Commission to authorise five GMO products, maize Bt11, 1507 and MON810 (seeds and products), and a glyphosate-resistant cotton

EXCERPT: MEPs said that GMOs are now being authorised in the EU by the Commission, without the support of opinions of member state committees. This was supposed to be an exception to the usual decision-taking procedure, but has in fact become the norm.

MEPs oppose EU Commission plans to authorise five GMOs

By Beata Stur
New Europe, 7 Oct 2016
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/meps-oppose-eu-commission-plans-authorise-five-gmos/

The European Parliament on October 6 rejected plans by the European Commission to authorise five GMO products, maize Bt11, 1507 and MON810 (seeds and products), and a glyphosate-resistant cotton. MEPs also reiterated their call for a reform of the EU’s GMO authorisation procedure.

The five non-binding resolutions were tabled by objectors Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, BE), Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, FI), Guilliaume Balas (S&D, FR), Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL, IE), and Eleonora Evi (EFDD, IT).

According to a European Parliament press release, MEPs are concerned that maize Bt11 and maize 1507 could harm “non-target” species of butterflies and moths. They question the concept, introduced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of an “acceptable local mortality” of non-target lepidopteran species.

The EFSA assessment of maize MON 810 seeds lacks data, said MEPs, who point out that possible cross-contamination by an invasive plant carrying Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, used as a pesticide, poses “major risks for farmers and the environment”.

In the cases of MON810 products and genetically modified cotton 281-24-236 × 3006-210-23 × MON 88913 (DAS-24236-5×DAS-21Ø23-5×MON-88913-8), MEPs said that GMOs are now being authorised in the EU by the Commission, without the support of opinions of member state committees. This was supposed to be an exception to the usual decision-taking procedure, but has in fact become the norm.

Last year, the European Parliament opposed a separate EU law that would allow any EU member state to restrict or prohibit the sale and use of EU-approved GMO food or feed on its territory. MEPs argued this law might prove unworkable or that it could lead to the reintroduction of border checks between pro- and anti-GMO countries. They called on the Commission to table a new proposal.