The European Parliament adopted by 477 votes to 52, with 20 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP910521 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
On 27 June 2022, Corteva Agriscience Belgium B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Corteva Agriscience LLC, based in the United States, submitted an application to the national competent authority of the Netherlands for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP910521.
The GM maize produces the Cry1B.34 toxin and is resistant to the herbicide glufosinate and is resistant to the herbicide glufosinate. Cry1B.34 is a synthetic fusion protein combining Cry1B, Cry1Ca1 and Cry9Db1, engineered for insect resistance against lepidopteran pests, without demonstrated specificity to target species.
Parliament underlined the lack of assessment of the complementary herbicide. A number of studies show that herbicide-tolerant GM crops result in a higher use of complementary herbicides, in large part because of the emergence of herbicide-tolerant weeds. Herbicide-tolerant GM crops lock farmers into a weed management system that is largely or wholly dependent on herbicides. The adverse impacts stemming from excessive reliance on herbicides will worsen as regards soil health, water quality, and above and below ground biodiversity, and lead to increased human and animal exposure.
Moreover, outstanding questions remain concerning Bt toxins and the effects on non-target organisms.
Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA, including that the list of relevant studies, identified in the literature review of the applicant, did not include studies on the fate of Bt proteins in the environment or on potential effects of Btcrop residues on non-target organisms even though such studies exist. Moreover, glufosinate, the complementary herbicide, is associated with significant risks to biodiversity, soil and water quality, and long-term ecosystem health.
Parliament stressed the need to ensure a level playing field at global level given the difficulties arising from divergent standards between the Union and its trading partners, and to respect the Union's international obligations. It is recalled that the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed at the COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (‘UN CBD’) in December 2022, includes a global target to reduce the risk of pesticides by at least 50 % by 2030.
However, the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur will incentivise imports to the Union of food and animal feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified organisms. Brazil and Argentina are among the world’s top GMO producers and pesticide users, including GMOs and pesticides banned in the Union for health or environmental reasons. It is also important to reduce dependency on imported feed.
On a procedural note, Parliament recalled that it adopted a total of 36 resolutions objecting to the placing on the market of GMOs. Despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs.
On the basis of these considerations, Parliament considered that the draft Commission implementing decision is not consistent with Union law, which is to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market.
Therefore, Parliament called on the Commission to:
- withdraw its draft implementing decision and to submit a new draft to the committee;
- ensure convergence of standards between the Union and its partners in free trade agreement negotiations, in order to meet Union safety standards;
- not authorise the GM maize due to the increased risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health in line with the One Health approach;
- deliver, as matter of urgency, on its commitment to come forward with a proposal to ensure that hazardous chemicals banned in the Union are not produced for export;
- take into account the Union's obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The draft implementing acts should be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’.