By a two-thirds majority, the European Parliament opposed, on Thursday 10 October in Strasbourg, the Commission's plans to authorise the import into the EU of maize varieties resistant to glyphosate and/or glufosinate herbicides and a transgenic soybean for human or animal consumption purposes.
These objections were mainly motivated by reasons of public health and environmental protection.
Parliament's opposition concerns both GMOs and foodstuffs containing them, namely MZHG0JG maize (SYN-ØØØØØJG-2 produced by Syngenta, hybrid maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 × DAS-40278-9 (objection adopted by 435 votes to 207, with 18 abstentions), and Bayer soya A2704-12 (objection adopted by 426 votes to 208, 20 abstentions).
In doing so, Parliament followed the recommendation of its Environment Committee (see EUROPE 12336/7).
Recognized as a probable carcinogen by the WHO, glyphosate is controversial. Glufosinate has been banned in Europe since 2018. "Let's stop importing food produced with substances banned in Europe!"said Pascal Canfin, Chairman of the Committee. As for transgenic soya, its cultivation contributes to deforestation, say MEPs. In addition, the Commission presented these projects without the support of a qualified majority of Member States. "We must put an end to this aberration in the context of the Green Deal", the MEP added. Objection by Parliament is not legally binding. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)