On Monday 28 September, the European Commission authorised a Monsanto hybrid genetically modified organism (GMO) for food and feed use: the glyphosate resistant soybean MON 87708 x MON 89788 x A5547-127 (see EUROPE 12369/7).
Marketing authorisation in the EU has been granted for ten years.
The fate of this GMO, which had received a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), was in the hands of the Commission, as Member States failed to reach the qualified majority required to decide for or against authorisation.
“All Member States had the right to express their views in the Standing Committee and subsequently in the Appeal Committee. Given the outcome of the process, the European Commission has the legal duty to proceed with the authorisation”, the Commission said in a statement.
It added that “any product produced from this genetically modified soybean will be subject to the EU's strict labelling and traceability rules”.
The European Parliament, for its part, systematically objects to any new GMO authorisations, particularly when they are resistant to glyphosate and other herbicides.
In addition to health and the environment, it systematically invokes the undemocratic nature of the authorisation procedure, which gives the Commission a free hand even if a majority of Member States are against authorisation, since Parliament's objections are not legally binding. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)