Brussels, 28/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Two reports published on 28 October by the European Commission assessing the European legislative framework for GMOs conclude that EU legislation on GMOs is seen by stakeholders - operators and relevant authorities alike - as being on track to meeting objectives. They say there is broad support for the legislation's objectives and that recent legislative Commission initiatives are heading in the right direction. In order to meet the objectives set - protection of health and the environment and the creation of an internal market - and to ensure the legislation is correctly implemented, it is, however, necessary to make a few adjustments. The reports note that the authorisation system could be more efficient, GMO cultivation would benefit from more flexibility, and the risk assessment process from further harmonisation.
Both reports were commissioned by the Commission from consultancy firms. The first (by Agra CEAS Consulting) assesses the legislative framework in force for GMOs intended for food and feed. The second (by EPEC - The European Policy Evaluation Consortium) is focused on the legislation relating to GMO crops.
“These reports confirm that the problems of implementation of the GMO legislation do not stem from its design or its objectives, which remain relevant, but rather from the way these sensitive issues are handled at a political level”, comments John Dalli, European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner. Also, he stressed, the July 2010 proposal aims to give member states the possibility, under certain conditions, to restrict or ban GMO cultivation on their territory despite authorisation at EU level. He said: “This is why targeted solutions, such as our GMO cultivation proposal, are so important since this particular proposal addresses a very specific political need, whilst maintaining the overall rigorous EU authorisation system.”
The other recent Commission initiatives that received a positive evaluation are the regulation for harmonisation that took effect in July on the acceptable threshold of unauthorised GMOs present in tiny quantities (0.1%) in imported fodder (see EUROPE 10323), and the preliminary report on socio-economic impacts of GMOs in April. Incomplete due to a lack of sufficient data, it prompted the Commission to propose providing aid to member states for the collecting and sharing of information required.
Reform of the legislative framework applicable to GMOs will not stop there. The Commission announces that it will, in coming weeks, present more specific demands for notification of dossiers presented by companies applying for authorisation for imported food and feed products.
Work is underway on revising the guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the assessment of environmental risks. Strengthened control of the environmental impact of GMOs by companies and member states is also in the pipeline. (AN/transl.jl)