Brussels, 29/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Member States failed to take position on the European Commission's proposals to oblige Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Greece to lift their national bans on the sales and use of varieties of genetically modified seeds legally authorised in the EU. Meeting in the regulatory committee on directive 2001/18/EEC, national experts failed to reach qualified majority either for or against the proposals (see EUROPE of 27 November, p.9).
The European Commission will have to refer the matter formally to the Council over the next few weeks. If, within three months, the Council does not manage to come to any conclusions, it will be up to the Commission to rule. The Member States in question will therefore be obliged to lift their national embargo measures within twenty days of the formal notification of the Commission's decision.
The GMOs in question are: sweetcorn BT7176 and T25, oilseed rape Topas 19/2 and rapeseed Member State 1XRF1.
In a press release, the Greens/EFA of the European Parliament speak out against the "pressure" brought to bear by the Commission to "accept the basis for the free movement, sales and growing of GMOs", although the incriminated countries "have prohibited these GM products due to the many scientific uncertainties that persist on this matter, and by virtue of the safeguard clause contained within the old directive 90/200/EC (article 16.1) and directive 2001/18/EC which replaced it (article 23)". It is worth noting that directive 2001/18/EC is the framework directive governing the voluntary dissemination of GMOs into the environment and authorisation procedures for the sales of GMOs.
Stating that the "Commission's attitude is intolerable, because it threatens the autonomy and sovereignty of the States", and that it is "perfectly legitimate and legal for a State to ban the sales or growth of GMOs in order to protect the environment and human health", especially "in the absence of Community provisions on civil responsibility as a framework for the dissemination of GMOs", the Greens/EFA of the parliament call upon the Member States to vote against the Commission's proposal when they take position within the Council.