Council of environment ministers of the European Union

No joint alignment on GM authorisation

(27 October 2008) EU Member States continue to have different ideas about possible changes in the authorisation process for genetically modified plants in Europe. At their session in Luxemburg last week, the EU environment ministers were unable to come to an agreement on joint proposals.

France, which holds the Presidency of the EU Council to the end of 2008, set up a working group this summer to work on proposals for changes to the current authorisation process for GMOs. A decision is to be made in December at the Council’s session, but political discussions within the Council of environment ministers shows once again that the Member States are far from reaching a compromise.

Some Member States want to allow for the possibility of prohibiting the planting of GM crops in certain ecologically sensitive or protected areas. Others want that such restrictions be applied only if there is a scientifically-based protective measure.

Even France’s proposal that GMO authorisation be decided not only on scientific safety evaluations, but also on socio-economic factors, did not get wide-spread approval. While it is considered important when authorising GMOs to assess possible consequences to agricultural systems already in place, there are currently no clear, practical definitions within the framework of the authorisation process. Some Member States stressed that such socio-economic factors not be allowed to override scientific safety evaluations. It also has to be kept in mind that the authorisation process should not violate World Trade Organization (WTO) contracts, which the EU is obliged to uphold.

According to the French Presidency, the Member States unanimously agree to improve the process for assessing long-term effects of GM crops on the environment. Some countries are calling for the revision of safety evaluation guidelines used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Changes to the GM plant authorisation process are supposed to be finally decided at the Council’s session in December.

See also on GMO Compass:

• The Long Road to Authorisation