The European Parliament adopted by 467 votes to 156, with 18 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 MON 95275 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
On 29 April 2022, Bayer Agriculture B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, 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 MON 95275. On 19 June 2024, EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, published on 1 August 2024, on MON 95275.
Members considered that EFSA’s opinion provides insufficient data to assess unintended genetic effects, the biological activity of read-through sequences, and potential off-target impacts on non-target organisms. The field trials conducted by the applicant failed to account for diverse environmental stress conditions or varying agricultural practices, limiting the relevance of the results to European cultivation environments. EFSA’s assessment did not sufficiently address the role of microbiome interactions or cumulative toxicity impacts on non-target organisms.
Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA during the three-month consultation period, including that the list of relevant studies identified in the literature review of the applicant, did not include studies on the fate of insecticidal proteins in the environment or on potential effects of crop residues on non-target organisms.
On a procedural note, Parliament recalled that it adopted a total of 38 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 crops due to risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health in line with the One Health approach;
- 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’.