The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Should GM crops be grown in the EU? Let the countries decide for themselves, propose a group of experts

Published 15 January 2018
Among the gene-modified plant types approved in the EU’s risk assessment, but nonetheless not allowed to be cultivated, are several types of maize (the maize in the photo is not a GM crop). Photo: David Stephansson.
Among the gene-modified plant types approved in the EU’s risk assessment, but nonetheless not allowed to be cultivated, are several types of maize (the maize in the photo is not a GM crop). Photo: David Stephansson.

Even though the EU’s food safety authority, EFSA, has classified genetically modified (GM) crops as safe, several member states always vote against authorisation, which poses an obstacle for countries thinking of growing these crops. A group of researchers and experts want to resolve this impasse. Each country should be allowed to individually decide on cultivation of GM crops within their borders if the crops have passed the EU’s risk assessment – this is the message of an opinion piece published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

The European Union (EU) has for many years been obstructed by the voting procedure regarding the authorisation of genetically modified (GM) crops for commercial cultivation in EU countries.

“Several countries regularly demonstrate voting behaviour that seems politically rather than scientifically motivated”, says Dennis Eriksson, researcher at the Department of Plant Breeding at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the article’s lead author. One of the co-authors is Nélida Leiva Eriksson, researcher in biochemistry at Lund University.

Dennis Eriksson, Nélida Leiva Eriksson and the other 11 co-authors from 12 countries have now presented a solution to overcome the problems associated with the voting procedure. In their article, they call on the EU Commission to introduce legislation that will allow EU countries to individually authorise the cultivation of GM crops that have passed the EU’s risk assessment. This would allow countries to benefit from plant types with characteristics that have considerable value nationally. It would also relieve pressure on the EU Commission, which would no longer be forced to take (or not take) decisions against the political will of several EU countries.

Two years ago, new legislation gave individual EU countries the right to prohibit the cultivation of GM crops despite EU-level authorisation. This effectively moved away from the harmonisation objective of the GMO Directive, towards giving national parliaments increased decision-making rights. Due to this, the authors consider that individual countries should also have the corresponding right to authorise the cultivation of GM crops.

“The risk assessment should remain a collective procedure in the EU as it is today, under the auspices of the European Food Safety Authority”, says Dennis Eriksson. “This enables more comprehensive and consistent assessments with greater resources and highly qualified, independent experts.”

“Our proposal would also provide more predictable conditions for both farmers and the market, enabling countries if they wish to allow crops with desirable characteristics that will, for example, reduce pesticide use, provide gluten-free cereals, and improve the nutritional and health-promoting qualities of our food.”

Article: Why the European Union needs a national GMO opt-in mechanism

Latest news

Link to rss
All news
Categories
Research
15 Sep 2020