The European Parliament adopted by 478 votes to 165, with 16 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2618 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP202216 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 1 July 2019, Pioneer Overseas Corporation, based in Belgium, submitted, on behalf of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., based in the United States, an application to the national competent authority of the Netherlands for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP202216. EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, which was published on 20 March 2024.

The GM maize contains genes conferring resistance to glufosinate and is supposed to have an increased yield potential.

Parliament highlighted the lack of assessment of complementary herbicides . It recalled in this regard that a number of studies show that herbicide-tolerant GM crops result in a higher use of complementary herbicides, in large part because of the emergence of herbicide-tolerant weeds.

Glufosinate is classified as toxic to reproduction 1B. The approval of glufosinate for use in the Union expired on 31 July 2018.

Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA including: (i) that the monitoring plan at hand does not ensure that relevant information for the monitoring of the product is gathered and therefore cannot be considered adequate; (ii) that further information should be presented before the risk assessment can be finalised and that, although the GMO is not intended for cultivation, the applicant should provide detailed information on the wild relative teosinte, which has been found repeatedly in Union fields, and (iii) that spillage of maize seed during transport must be anticipated.

Parliament stressed the need to ensure a global level playing field given the challenge of diverging standards of the Union and its trading partners, and to respect the EU's international obligations .

According to Members, authorising the import for food or feed uses of any GM plant which has been made tolerant to herbicides is incoherent with the Union’s international commitments under, inter alia , the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Framework, which includes a global target to reduce the risk of pesticides by at least 50 % by 2030. It is also important to reduce the dependency on imported feed.

On a procedural note, Parliament recalled that it adopted 38 resolutions objecting to the placing GMOs on the market. Despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs.

On the basis of these considerations, Parliament considered that the Implementing Decision is not consistent with Union law , which is to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, in relation to GM food and feed, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market.

Therefore, Parliament called on the Commission to:

- repeal Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2618 and to submit a new draft to the committee;

- ensure convergence of standards between the Union and its partners in free trade agreement negotiations, in order to meet Union safety standards;

- not authorise herbicide-tolerant GM crops, due to the associated increased use of complementary herbicides and therefore the increased risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health;

- deliver, as matter of urgency, on its commitment to come forward with a proposal to ensure that hazardous chemicals banned in the Union are not produced for export;

- take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements , such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The draft implementing acts should be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’.

Text adopted by Parliament, single reading

T10-0044/2024

B10-0152/2024