In general terms, the Common Position follows the structure of the original Commission Proposal and takes full account of the European Parliament amendments introduced in the amended Commission Proposal. The Commission was in a position to support the Common Position, which was adopted by qualified majority.
The majority of the changes introduced by the Council increase the consistency and coherence of the original Proposal, notably with regard to links, particularly for thresholds, with Directive 2001/18/EC and the Proposal on GM Food and Feed (refer to COD/2001/0173).
In a declaration the Commission recognises that it would be highly desirable that this Regulation and the Regulation on GM Food and Feed are applicable at the same time given the links between the two regulations.�