In the name of health and environmental protection, the European Parliament opposed, on Thursday 11 May, the renewal of the authorisation in the EU of imported glufosinate-tolerant genetically modified cotton. Under review was Dow AgroSciences LLC cotton 281-24-236 × 3006-210-2 (see EUROPE 13172/38).
The objection to the European Commission’s draft implementing decision was adopted by 394 votes to 169 with 17 abstentions. It concerns both GMOs and products containing them.
MEPs point out that this GM cotton is tolerant to glufosinate, a pesticide banned in the EU. They also denounce shortcomings in risk assessment and a democratic deficit in the authorisation procedure.
The Commission relies on a favourable opinion from EFSA. Member States were said to have taken no decision unless they had the required qualified majority for or against.
Parliament calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing decision and reiterates its deep disappointment that the institution continues to allow the import of GMOs into the EU despite repeated objections and even though a majority of Member States are against the authorisation.
It urges the Commission not to allow the import of herbicide-tolerant GM crops, arguing that this would lead to an increase in the use of additional herbicides and thus increase the risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health.
See the resolution adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/6tz (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)