EU Gets Flexible On GMO Cultivation

A new flexible approach to GMO cultivation has been outlined by the European Commission today (July 13) which seeks to achieve the right balance between maintaining an EU authorisation system and the freedom for member states to decide on GMO cultivation in their territory.

While keeping unchanged the EU’s science-based GM authorisation system, the Commission is proposing EU member states are given the freedom to allow, restrict or ban the cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms on part or all of their territory.
Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner, John Dalli said: “Last March, the Commission promised to present a comprehensive proposal on our future policy vis-a -vis GM cultivation by the end of the summer. Today we deliver on that promise. The concrete measures adopted today will allow member states the freedom to decide on GMO cultivation. Experience with GMOs so far shows that member states need more flexibility to organise the co-existence of GM and other types of crops such as conventional and organic crops.”
He said granting genuine freedom on grounds other than those based on a scientific assessment of health and environmental risks would require a change to the current legislation.
“This means that a very thorough safety assessment and a reinforced monitoring system are priorities in GMO cultivation and are therefore being pursued vigorously. The Commission is committed to follow up actions on them before the end of the year,” he said.
With the new freedom given to member states to decide on cultivation, a strong signal is sent to citizens that Europe takes into account their concerns, which may vary from one country to another, regarding GMOs.
The new approach aims to achieve the right balance between maintaining an EU authorisation system and the freedom for member states to decide on GMO cultivation in their territory.
The previous Recommendation made a direct link between the establishment of co-existence measures and the respect of the 0.9 per cent threshold for labelling as GM food, feed or products intended for direct processing. Member states were advised to limit co-existence measures (e.g. length of distances between GM and non-GM fields) to comply with 0.9 per cent GM presence in other crops.
The proposal for revising Directive 2001/18/EC aims to secure legal certainty for member states when they decide on GMO cultivation on grounds other than those based on a scientific assessment of health and environmental risks. To this end, the Commission proposes to include a new article (26b), which would be applicable to all GMOs that will be authorised for cultivation. Member states will be able to restrict or prohibit GMO cultivation in part or all of their territory without recourse to the safeguard clause. Their decisions will not need to be authorised by the Commission, but member states will have to inform other member states and the Commission one month before the adoption of their measures.
At the same time, the EU authorisation system, based on scientific assessment of health and environmental risks will be maintained and further improved, thus ensuring the protection of consumers and the functioning of the internal market for GM and non-GM seeds, as well as for GM food and feed.
The legislative proposal will be adopted through co-decision with the European Parliament and the Council.