As expected, MEPs on the European Parliament's Environment Committee on Monday 30 November opposed plans by the European Commission to authorise the market authorisation or renewal of 5 glyphosate-resistant GMOs and products containing them - 1 soybean and 4 maize hybrids.
In support of the five objections, MEPs invoked the protection of the environment and public health and the undemocratic nature of the procedure that allows for authorisation even when the majority of Member States are opposed to it.
During the debate, MEPs from the EPP and ECR groups announced that they would vote against the objections, citing the favourable opinions issued by EFSA.
. The objection to the market authorisation of the genetically modified soybean MON 87751 × MON 87701 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 was adopted by 50 votes to 27 with 1 abstention.
. The objection to the market authorisation of the transgenic maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411 and the genetically modified maize that combines two or three of the events MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162, and MON 8741 was adopted by 53 votes to 26 with 1 abstention.
. MEPs objected by 53 votes (26 against and one abstention) to the Commission’s draft implementing decision renewing the authorisation of the genetically modified maize MIR604 (SYN-IR6Ø4-5).
. The objection to the renewal of the authorisation of MON 88017 (MON-88Ø17-3) was approved by 53 votes to 26, with 1 abstention.
. The objection to the renewal of the authorisation of MON 89034 (MON-89Ø34-3) was approved by 52 votes to 27, with one abstention.
Facing criticism from Sara Mattieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium), who deplored the fact that in five years the Commission did not change anything in the authorisation procedure despite the European Parliament’s constant objections, the Commission representative replied that all stages of the procedure had been scrupulously respected and that there were no safety problems. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)