Reuters, 28 March 2017
A majority of EU countries voted on Monday against allowing two new genetically modified crops to be grown in Europe, batting the contentious decision on GM cultivation in Europe back to the EU executive, according to two sources.
EU governments were asked to vote on the future of two grades of GM maize, Pioneer's 1507 and Syngenta's Bt11, which kill insects by producing their own pesticide and are also resistant to a particular herbicide.
However, the votes against were not decisive in blocking their introduction because the opposition did not represent a "qualified majority" - also including countries that make up at least 65 percent of the EU population.
The governments were also asked to determine whether to extend authorization for Monsanto's MON810, an insect-resistant maize that is grown mainly in Spain, but banned in a number of other counties.
More countries voted against than in favor, but again the vote was not considered decisive.
Mute Schimpf, food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said the decision now rested with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
"He can put himself on the side of the majority of countries, citizens and farmers who do not want genetically modified crops, or he can back the mega-corporations behind the industrialization of our countryside," she said.
At the end of last year, 55 GM crops were approved for import as feed and food into Europe. While approved for human consumption, in practice the crops are used as animal feed.
Repeated EU scientific assessments have concluded that GMO crops are as safe for humans and the environment as their conventional counterparts, but consumer opposition to the technology in Europe remains strong.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-eu-gmo-idUKKBN16Y207
GM maize cultivation blocked again by Brussels
Farmers Weekly, 28 March 2017
EU member state experts have again failed to approve new licences for two new GM maize varieties to be grown in the European Union, meaning the applications will now be passed to farm ministers.
The varieties in question are insect-resistant Bt11 maize from Syngenta and 1507 maize from Dow-Pioneer, while MON 810 maize from Monsanto – which is already extensively grown in Spain – is also being considered for reauthorisation.
In keeping with previous votes, member states meeting in an appeals committee in Brussels on Monday (27 March) were split on the issue – with 30% of the vote in favour, 47% against and 23% abstaining.
This means the dossiers must now pass to a more senior level and are likely to be considered by EU farm ministers at their May council meeting.
Final decision
However, according to Arnaud Petit, director of commodities and trade with EU farmers’ body Copa, established voting patterns are likely to be repeated, and it will be left for the EU Commission to make a final decision.
That verdict is likely to be a positive one, Mr Petit predicts.
Even though granting a licence to cultivate GM crops in Europe is more controversial than just approving them for import and use in livestock rations, new legislation means individual governments can still opt out.
So far, 19 individual countries or regions have already declared they will not allow GMs to be grown on their territory – including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the UK.
Reaction
Despite this, green lobby group Friends of the Earth (FoE) is already pressing the EU Commission to reject the licence applications outright
“Whether he likes it or not, the buck now stops with [commission president] Jean-Claude Juncker,” said Mute Schimpf, FoE food campaigner.
“He can put himself on the side of the majority of countries, citizens and farmers who do not want genetically modified crops, or he can back the mega-corporations behind the industrialisation of our countryside.”
But Monsanto spokesman Mark Buckingham said a decision to withdraw GM maize would be detrimental to Spanish growers, who now have one-third of their planted area down to MON 810.
“Research by the EU’s Joint Research Centre has shown how GM maize benefits them in terms of crop yield, gross margin and the environment,” he said.
Bio-industry body Europabio also called for Brussels to follow its own safety advice.
“The EU must stop letting politics trump science on GMOs once and for all, and give European farmers the choice to access safe and innovative GM products,” said agricultural director Beat Späth.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/gm-maize-cultivation-blocked-brussels.htm