The European Commission project for authorising GMO’s is taking on another guise. For reasons relating to public health protection and the environment, on Thursday 4 May in Brussels, members of the European Parliament’s environment committee vetoed the authorisation to import products containing GMOs that resist certain herbicides.
On the question of products containing the DAS-40278-9 maize resistant to the herbicide 2. D, the rejection was adopted by 35 votes (with 19 against). MEPs invoked the criticism made by the member states during the three-month consultation period before approval which were underpinned by the concerns expressed by independent researchers regarding the risks that this herbicide presents concerning development of the foetus and reasons relating to endocrine disrupting properties.
With regard to the products containing the GHB119 cotton, resistant to glufosinate ammonium based herbicides, MEPs objected by 38 votes (to 15 against) and explained that their authorisation for imports would encourage the use of these herbicides, despite the fact that glufosinate ammonium has been classified as a toxic substance on the reproductive health system.
MEPs also identified shortcomings in the environmental risk assessment and the absence of data, which had been criticised by member states.
The European Parliament will in turn provide its viewpoint during the mid-May plenary (15-18 in May). It should be pointed out that Parliament's objection does not have any binding obligation on the European Commission. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)