MEPs were divided, on Tuesday 6 February in Strasbourg, over how to regulate the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs), the day before a long-awaited vote on the draft report which substantially amends the initial proposal (see EUROPE 13335/10).
The rapporteur, Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Swedish), praised the merits of technologies that can help combat the effects of climate change (drought-resistant plants, for example) and boost the competitiveness of European agriculture.
Peter Liese (EPP, German) said that these NGTs posed no health risk and that these new techniques were an opportunity for farmers.
“I am in favour of legislation on NGTs, but I refuse to play the sorcerer’s apprentice and take away all freedom of choice from consumers and farmers”, said Christophe Clergeau (S&D, French). He supported the compromise presented on the non-patentability of these new GMOs, but called for more to be done in several areas (see EUROPE 13334/3). One needs to guarantee traceability and consumer information and protect organic produce, according to Mr Clergeau.
For the Greens/EFA and The Left groups, these NGTs do not represent progress, quite the contrary.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, German), said these NGTs do not comply with the precautionary principle. In addition, there is no traceability. For him, clear labelling is needed. He claims that there will be patents: “You are trying to deceive the public”, he concluded.
Benoît Biteau (Greens/EFA, French), for whom the 50% reduction in pesticides does not jeopardise Europe’s food sovereignty (see other news), pointed out that drought-resistant varieties (ecotypes) already exist. The day we have free GMOs growing alongside local and ancient species, they will contaminate them. It will be irreversible: the day the genetic heritage is lost, it will never be found again, warned Mr Biteau.
Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Dutch) stated that this text would be a fatal blow to organic farming (these seeds could end up on organic plots). For Manon Aubry (The Left, French), we are trying to introduce a new generation of GMOs “which will have disastrous effects on our health and on our farmers”. Marina Mesure (The Left, French) explained to a group of journalists that there is a strong mobilisation against these new GMOs, particularly in the communes of France. In her view, there is no need for new legislation as it already exists: Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms.
The precautionary principle is taken into account, as is scientific knowledge, promised the European Commission, which defended its proposal. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)