On 3 August, the European Commission announced it had authorised the marketing of five genetically modified organisms (GMO) within the EU, for food and feed use for a period of ten years. The authorisation decisions do not cover the use of those GMOs for crop cultivation.
The decisions concern: 1) two new authorisations: products containing, or products based on hybrid maize MON 87427 x MON 89034 x NK603 and products containing maize 1507 x 59122 x MON 810 x NK603); 2) the renewal of three existing authorisations (maize DAS-59122-7, maize GA21), sugar beet H7-1).
The European Parliament, however, had objected to the Commission’s proposals to authorise the marketing of transgenic maize GA21 and hybrid maize 1507 x 59122 x MON 810 x NK603 in the EU (see EUROPE 12030).
Based on those objections, MEPs had invoked the failings of the risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the fact that the MON810 and the NK603 are resistant to glyphosate (the 1507 is resistant to glufosinate).
Member states were unable to raise the qualified majority required for any of these GMOs for approval or rejection of the European Commission’s proposals, which were all based on favourable assessments from the EFSA. The Commission was therefore able to take the decision on its own. It decided to go ahead. The objections raised by the Parliament are politically important but are not of a legally binding nature. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)