28/04/23 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 27 April, MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rejected - by 42 votes to 22 with 3 abstentions - the renewal of the authorisation to place genetically modified cotton (both the GMO itself and all products containing it) on the EU market, citing environmental and health protection, shortcomings in the risk assessment and a democratic deficit. Cotton 281-24-236 × 3006-210-2, produced by Dow AgroSciences LLC, is resistant to glufosinate, a pesticide banned in the EU, and produces a Bt toxin. 13 Member States had voted against the authorisation, but did not have the qualified majority required to decide. This is the 36th parliamentary objection to a GMO during this legislature. See the text: https://aeur.eu/f/6lx (AN)