On Wednesday 20 September, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) vetoed two European Commission implementing decisions to authorise the placing on the EU market of genetically modified maize varieties for food and feed use.
As usual, they cited risks to health and the environment, shortcomings in the scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and a democratic deficit in the authorisation procedure.
The first objection (49 votes in favour, 26 against, one abstention) concerns the hybrid maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MIR162 × NK603 × DAS-40278-9 and nine sub-combinations, consisting of or produced from it, from Bayer CropScience tolerant to four herbicides, including glufosinate and glyphosate, and producing Bt toxins.
The second objection (48 votes in favour, 25 against and 3 abstentions) concerned the renewal of authorisation for the genetically modified maize MIR162 from Syngenta (Switzerland), which produces a Bt toxin to resist lepidopteran pests. The first authorisation dates back to 2012.
These two objections apply both to transgenic maize itself and to products containing it. Even if the European Parliament adopts these objections, nothing will prevent the European Commission from authorising the placing on the market of these GMOs.
To consult the texts, go to https://aeur.eu/f/8om and; https://aeur.eu/f/8on (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)