EP Environment Committee Backs GM Flexibility

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has voted in favor of allowing EU member states to restrict or ban cultivation of GMO crops on their own soil, even if the European Commission generally has not turned its back on manipulated crops.

The committee's second reading recommendation was approved by 53 votes to 11 with two abstentions.

The MEPs rejected an idea broached by the European Council to require the states to first negotiate with biotech companies to exclude their territory from GM crop cultivation zones.

With the support of environmental protection organizations, parliamentarians skeptical of that plan successfully argued that requiring a six-month negotiating period before opting out would have allowed biotech companies to pressure states that wanted GM bans.

"This vote shows we have secured a broad consensus between the political groups in the European Parliament on this sensitive issue," said Frédérique Ries, who is steering the legislation through Parliament.

At the same time, Ries said, the rules secure "a clear process for the authorization of GMOs at EU level, with improved safeguards and a key role for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

According to the text approved in committee, member states will be able to pass legally binding acts restricting or prohibiting the cultivation of GM crops despite being approved at EU level.

Among other things, bans could be based on environmental considerations, planning, land use, agricultural policy, public policy, socio-economic impacts or preventing GM contamination of other products, persistent scientific uncertainty.

Case-by-case risk assessments to be carried out by EFSA should take account of the direct, indirect, immediate, delayed and cumulative effects of GMOs on human health and the environment, and always take account of the precautionary principle, the committee said.