The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Giovanni LA VIA (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territory.
The committee recommended that Parliament reject the Commission proposal and called on the Commission to withdraw its position.
In its proposal, the Commission suggests to mirror, as regards genetically modified food and feed, the recent amendment of Directive 2001/18/EC in respect of GMOs intended for cultivation (Directive (EU) 2015/412 which entered into force in early April 2015). Accordingly, it proposed to allow Member States to restrict or prohibit - under certain conditions - the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territory after these products have been authorised ("opt-out").
Members considered, in particular, that - as its adoption was not preceded by an assessment of all possible impacts and alternative options available - the proposal conflicts with the "Better Regulation" and "Transparency" pledges made by the new Commission.
As the EU remains highly dependent on the supply of proteins from GM sources and considering that the proposal is likely to have negative indirect effect on imports, Members are of the view that the proposal may seriously endanger livestock production and also negatively affect agriculture in the EU.