Brussels, 03/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 2 April 2009, the European Commission adopted a report on the coexistence of genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional and organic farming. The report notes that there is not at present any reason to deviate from the European Commission's subsidiarity-based approach to genetically modified farming and therefore no EU legislation is required. In 2011, the Commission will publish a progress report on the drawing up and application of member states' measures on coexistence.
Some 15 member states (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Slovakia) have passed legislation on coexistence, 11 more than in 2006. Three other member states have notified the Commission of draft legislation they are passing. “In some of these member states (Austria and Belgium), the competence lies at regional level and not all regions may be covered by the legislation in place,” explains the Commission. Several member states are not considering introducing regulations in the short-term because they do not think it likely that GMOs will be grown in their countries.
The Commission's report concludes that although the growing of genetically modified crops is highly controversial in the EU, there is no concrete evidence that the introduction of GM crops in the EU has caused problems in practice but this assessment is based on the commercial experience to date. The report points out that the only GMO plant currently grown in the EU is Monsanto's genetically modified maize MON810 which is resistant to certain pests. In 2008, according to information provided by the member states, MON810 was grown in six member states (Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia) on a cultivation surface area of around 100,000 hectares, 1.2% of the EU's total maize area. In some member states, however, the growing of MON810 accounts for a greater proportion of the total maize crop (20% in Spain for instance).
The Commission does not want to introduce legislation on coexistence, but has come up with a work programme all the same: - assessing the economic impact of setting future limits on genetically modified seed and using the research to decide on the best legislative approach to follow in this domain; and continuing to monitor the work of COEX-NET ('Network Group for the Exchange and Coordination of Information' on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with other forms of farming) in order to promote exchange of information with the member states on practical experience, research and the surveillance of coexistence; drawing up technical guidelines on coexistence measures for types of crop, using the European Coexistence Bureau (ECoB) created by the Commission; and continuing to support research into clearly identified needs. (L.C./transl.fl)