As far as herbicide-resistant GMOs are concerned, the same causes produce the same effects: for the European Parliament, that means refusal of authorisation in the EU for food and feed.
In Strasbourg on Wednesday 5 April, MEPs rejected Commission proposals seeking to authorise the import of maize Bt11 x 59122 x MIR604 x1507 x GA21 by Syngenta and transgenic maize combining two, three or four genetic traits of the varieties Bt11, 59122, MIR604, 1507 and GA21 (see EUROPE 11750).
The resolution of objection garnered 426 votes (with 230 voting against and 28 abstaining).
The Commission was proposing to authorise these GMOs and derived products on the basis of the favourable opinion delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 26 August last.
MEPs highlight the lack of data and the shortcomings in the assessment and point out that there exists within EFSA a minority opinion that Syngenta has failed to provide data that makes it possible to carry out a risk assessment of the sub-combinations.
Parliament argues, too, that the various genetic traits give these GMOs tolerance to the highly controversial total herbicide Glyphosate (that is the case for Bt11 x 59122 x MIR 604 x 1507 x GA21) or the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.
It is once again critical that the Commission is proposing to authorise GMOs without the support of opinions of member state committees. The objection by Parliament is non-binding. The Commission may, therefore, proceed with the authorisations on its own authority.
The draft resolution was put down by Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, Belgium), Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL, Ireland), Julie Girling (ECR, UK), Sirpa Pietikainen (EPP, Finland), Eleonora Evi (EFDD, Italy) and Guillaume Balas (S&D, France). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)