By a very large majority, the European Parliament on Thursday 17 December opposed the market authorisation or renewal of authorisation of five genetically modified plants and products containing these GMOs for food or feed. There were one soybean and four corn hybrids under review, all resistant to glyphosate.
MEPs invoked the protection of health and the environment and the undemocratic nature of the procedure (see EUROPE 12613/13).
- The objection to the market authorisation of MON 87751 × MON 87701 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 was adopted by 472 votes to 194 with 30 abstentions.
- The objection to the market authorisation of MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411 maize and genetically modified maize combining two or three of the events MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and MON 8741 was adopted by 488 votes to 186, with 22 abstentions.
- MEPs objected by 489 votes (185 against and 22 abstentions) to the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation of transgenic maize MIR604 (SYN-IR6Ø4-5).
- The objection to the renewal of the authorisation of MON 88017 (MON-88Ø17-3) was approved by 489 votes to 185, with 22 abstentions.
- The vote on the renewal of the authorisation of MON 89034 (MON-89Ø34-3) was by 490 votes to 184, with 22 abstentions.
The milestone of 50 objections has been passed since December 2015 when Parliament started to systematically oppose EU authorisations of GMO plants - to no avail.
“Von der Leyen’s Green Deal Commission continues to authorise genetically modified crops whose cultivation causes environmental devastation in the producer countries, including the destruction of rainforests”, deplored Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) in a statement.
However, she recalls that the Commission has announced that in 2023 it will develop a new approach for the authorisation of GM crops imported into the EU “based on sustainability considerations”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)