Brussels, 19/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided by consensus to authorise the import and sales in the Union of Bt 11 genetically modified sweetcorn for ten years (tinned or fresh), made by the Swiss company Syngenta, for the purposes of consumption, not growth (see EUROPE of 15 May, p.10). This news comes as no surprise. As Council was unable to take position by qualified majority for or against the authorisation, the decision had to be taken by the Commission, under procedures in force. However, its intentions have long been clear: after five years of de facto moratorium on any new authorisation to sell GMOs within the Union, the Community executive felt that the time was ripe to put an end to this situation, which it felt was legally indefensible. This is especially the case since the regulatory arsenal called for by the Member States give maximum safety guarantees, for consumers and the environment alike, is now complete with the entry into force on 18 April of two regulations on traceability and the labelling of foodstuffs and animal foods made or derived from GMOs, to complement the directive 2001/18/EC on voluntary dissemination of GMOs into the environment and the regulation 1829/2003 entitled "Novel Food/Novel Feed".
David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, took the opportunity to repeat these arguments when talking to the press about the Commission's decision, which marks the lifting of the moratorium, to the great chagrin of environment groups and consumer organisations.
"Today is a red-letter day. Three years ago, together with my colleague for the Environment Margot Wallström, I proposed the approval of strict legislation on the labelling and traceability of foodstuffs containing GMOs, with the full support of the Council and the European Parliament. This regulation has been in force since April. It is clear, transparent and rigorous. GMOs authorised in the EU will be harmless to health and the environment. Consumers can trust in the protection guaranteed to them by this legislation. Bt 11 sweetcorn has been submitted to the strictest and most scientifically reliable testing in the world. This has shown that genetically modified sweetcorn is as safe as conventionally-produced sweetcorn. New rules applicable to GMOs call for proper labelling of all products which contain it", said the Commissioner. He feels that the question raised is therefore not one of food safety, but one of the free, well-informed choice of the consumer, whether to consume or avoid GMOs. And, to convince reluctant ones of the irrationality of their fears, David Byrne pointed out that grain from this same line of genetically modified sweetcorn have been legally imported into the EU since 1998 for animal feed and derivative products such as corn oil, sugar and syrup, confectionery, and non-alcoholic drinks. Furthermore, Bt 11 sweetcorn is the thirty-fifth GMO to be authorised in the Union to date, he added.
"Today, the Commission has taken its responsibilities in respect of the legislation which allows it to do so. I am not a proponent of GM products, but of the strict adherence to European and international legislation. I hope that the Member States will take their own. They voted for the legislation on traceability and labelling. They should be convinced that the appropriate legislation is in place, and tell this to the public", said David Byrne. He proceeded to announced that a request for authorisation had been notified to the European Commission for Bt 11 sweetcorn for crops, on which the opinion of the European Food Safety Agency is expected in June.
In answer to a journalist who asked him whether he had traded his portfolio on this with the Commissioner for Industry, David Byrne said: "Erkki Liikanen's position is well known. Mine was to keep the consumer informed and protected, and I am proud of it". He refuted the idea that a Commission decision without a majority in the Council and against public opinion could worsen the democratic deficit. "Our decision-making process is transparent. The decision came back to the Commission (...). We fully respected the EU's democratic system".
When asked about the fallout of this decision on the US appeal to the WTO, the Commissioner said that this would be positive, as "the countries which asked for a panel argued that the EU was delaying the application of its own legislation". Pavel Telicka, the Czech Commissioner, who has been assigned to work with David Byrne, admitted that he "joined the approval process very late on", but said he was convinced by the quality of the regulatory framework applicable to GMOs and by the results of the scientific assessments. "The arguments we heard were convincing. None of the new Member States has questioned the scientific basis", he said.