EU set to grow more GM maize despite strong opposition

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 11.02.14
Publication Date 11/02/2014
Content Type

EU Ministers at the General Affairs Council, Brussels, 11 February 2014 could not reach a qualified majority either in favour or against a European Commission proposal to authorise the placing on the market for cultivation of the genetically modified maize 1507, which is resistant to certain insects (butterflies pests).

The European Food Safety Authority had declared the variety safe, although some national governments and environmental groups opposed cultivation of the GM maize in Europe.

In accordance with the applicable rules it would now be up to the European Commission to authorise the maize 1507.

The EU Health Commissioner, Tonio Borg, said the Commission was proposing authorisation because the European Court of Justice had told the Commission in 2013 not to delay the decision any longer. Dupont-Pioneer had taken the Commission to court for 'failure to act' back in 2007.

EurActiv reported that European Parliament’s Greens group threatened on the 13 February 2014 to table a motion of censure against the European Commission, because of its persistence to authorise a GM crop that was rejected by 19 member states and a parliamentary majority. On the same day, twelve EU ministers sent an open letter to Mr. Borg, pressuring the Commission to withdraw its proposal to approve the genetically modified maize 'Pioneer 1507'.

EurActiv reported on the 19 February 2014 that France intended a change on the European legislation to allow national permits for GM maize.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26133592
Related Links
ESO: Background information: GMO: Commission asks Council to agree on its proposal to grant Member States more subsidiarity on cultivation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-gmo-commission-asks-council-to-agree-on-its-proposal-to-grant-member-states-more-subsidiarity-on-cultivation/
FoE Europe, December 2013: Maize 1507: toxic and inadequately tested. Why GM maize 1507 should be banned http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/news/foee_background_maize1507_short.pdf
Deutsche Welle, 11.02.14: EU allows DuPont Pioneer's GM supercorn http://dw.de/p/1B70i
Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/14/62: General Affairs Council, Brussels, 11.02.14 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/140991.pdf
Greenpeace: EU Unit: Press Release, 11.02.14: Record number of EU countries opposes Commission plan to allow pesticide-producing GM maize http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2014/Record-number-of-EU-countries-opposes-Commission-plan-to-allow-pesticide-producing-GM-maize/
ECJ Case T‑164/10: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. v European Commission - Deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Judgement of September 2013 http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=1507&docid=142241&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=158713#ctx1
Website: DuPont Pioneer: Pioneer Hi-Bred Northern Europe http://public.pioneer.com/portal/site/Public/?locale=en_GB
EUObserver, 11.02.14: GMO maize vote highlights 'absurd' EU rules http://euobserver.com/environment/123093
ESO: Background information: GMO activists stage protest outside Greenpeace’s Brussels office http://www.europeansources.info/record/gmo-activists-stage-protest-outside-greenpeaces-brussels-office/
EurActiv, 11.02.14: EU divisions pave way for new GMO grain approval http://www.euractiv.com/cap/eu-governments-split-new-gmo-gra-news-533429
Kurier, 11.02.14: GM maize will boost anti-EU sentiment (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE138190-GM-maize-will-boost-anti-EU-sentiment
EurActiv, 13.02.14: Greens threaten Commission with censure over GM crop http://www.euractiv.com/cap/black-day-democracy-eu-fails-ban-news-533456
The Greens / European Free Alliance: Press Release, 12.02.14: GM maize authorisation. Commission insistence must be met with censure http://www.greens-efa.eu/gm-maize-authorisation-11749.html
EurActiv, 13.02.14: EU ministers ask Commission to withdraw GMO proposal in open letter http://www.euractiv.com/cap/eu-ministers-ask-commission-with-news-533486
Deutsche Welle, 11.02.14: EU ministers vote on GM corn http://dw.de/p/1B6cC
Deutsche Welle, 12.02.14: Green MEP Staes: 'GMO clearly not wanted by majority of members' http://dw.de/p/1B7e6
EurActiv, 19.02.14: Paris wants national permits for GM maize http://www.euractiv.com/sustainability/paris-wants-national-permits-gm-news-533597

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