[ParlTrack]

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

- having regard to the opening statement of Jean-Claude Juncker, at that time candidate for President of the European Commission, in his speech in the European Parliament Plenary Session, Strasbourg, 15 July 20141a; ________________ 1a"I will make sure that the procedural rules governing the various authorisations for GMOs are reviewed. I would not want the Commission to be able to take a decision when a majority of Member States has not encouraged it to do so."

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

- having regard to the Commission work programme, adopted on 16 December 20141a; __________________ 1a SeeAnnex I of the Commission work programme 2015 ("New initiatives"), point 23: Review of the GMO decision- making process: "The review will look at how the rules could be changed to better ensure the majority view of Member States is taken into account".

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 c (new)

- having regard to the proposal for a Council decision concerning the placing on the market for cultivation, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of a maize product (Zea mays L., line 1507) genetically modified for resistance to certain lepidopteran pests3 , and the related votes in both regulatory committee (February 2009) and Council (February 2014), where no opinions were delivered;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 d (new)

- having regard to the January 2014 European Parliament's resolution on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the placing on the market for cultivation, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC, of a maize product (Zea mays L., line 1507) genetically modified for resistance to certain lepidopteran pests, by which the European Parliament opposes the adoption of the proposal;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its proposal; and submit a new one, implementing the President of the Commission's promise to take the majority view of Member States into account when deciding about GMO authorisations;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that its new proposal provides for the European Parliament's voice being adequately taken into account when it comes to decisions about GMO authorisations;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the Commission not to propose to authorise any new GMO variety and not to renew old ones until the new proposal is agreed upon;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Commission to take a long-term view in reviewing its policy on proteins, and to introduce adequate measures and instruments that support farmers in improving crop rotation systems and locally-grown fodder so as to substantially reduce the current dependence on feed imports;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Calls on the Commission to provide a balanced basis for democratic decision- making, in particular by improving risk assessment, as GMOs still pose many risks and uncertainties, and by ensuring the necessary resources for independent research on the potential risks involved in the deliberate release or the placing on the market of GMOs;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Calls on the Commission to increase transparency and choice for consumers by ensuring that products stemming from animals that were fed with GM feed are adequately labelled;

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 and Article 291(3) thereof,

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) Both Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 establish a centralised procedure at Union level whereby the Commission is empowered to adopt implementing decisions granting or refusing application for the authorisation of GMOs and GM food and feed, based on an assessment of the potential risks that they could pose to human or animal health, or the environment. Both Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 a~~lso provides that other legitimate factors may be taken into account, where appropriate~~nd Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council 1a require the Commission to take other legitimate factors into account, when submitting a draft decision. ______________ 1a Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1).

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) The use of genetic engineering in plants and in food and feed is a subject which divides opinion in the Member States and this is reflected in the decision-making process leading to the authorisation of GMOs for cultivation and GM food and feed. ~~Since the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, t~~The results of the voting in the committees or in Council show that there has never been a qualified majority either in favour of or against the authorisation of those products. ~~Therefore~~So far, authorisations have been adopted by the Commission at the end of the procedure, ~~in accordance with applicable legislation,~~ without the support of the Member States' committee opinion. However, as the area is very sensitive for European citizens, the Commission needs a clear indication on how to act in such cases. Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 therefore needs to be changed accordingly.

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) Once a GMO or a GM food and feed is authorised in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC or Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, the Member States may not prohibit, restrict or impede the free circulation of that product within their territory, except in accordance with strict conditions which are laid down by Union law –and require to provide evidence of a severe risk to health or to the environment. Some Member States have had recourse to the safeguard clauses and the emergency measures provided for respectively in Articles 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC and Article 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. Other Member States have made use of the notification procedure provided for in Article 114(5) and (6) of TFUE which also is required to be based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of the environment or the working environment. Other Member States have adopted unilateral prohibitions. Some of these measures have been challenged before national jurisdictions or the Court of justice.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) That situation was changed recently as regards GMOs for cultivation due to the adoption, on 13 March 2015, of Directive (EU) 2015/41214 which amended Directive 2001/18/EC to allow Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory. The new provisions are primarily aimed at enabling Member States to decide whether or not they wish to permit the cultivation of GMO crops on their territory, without affecting the risk assessment provided in the system of Union authorisations of GMOs. They were intended to provide more predictability to operators and limit the recourse by the Member States to the safeguard clauses provided for in Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. It was also expected that those amendments would have a positive impact on the decision-making process for the authorisation of GMOs for cultivation. __________________ 14Directive (EU) 2015/412 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory (OJ L 68, 13.3.2015, p. 1).deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) The reasons for the amendments made to Directive 2001/18/EC, by Directive (EU) 2015/412 as regards GMOs for cultivation are also relevant for other GMOs and GM food and feed covered by Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. Indeed, the results of the vote on the implementing decision for the authorisation of products covered by Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 which are not intended for cultivation in the relevant committee, or in the Council, is always “no opinion” (no qualified majority either in favour of or against the authorisation) and there are also Member States in which the use of these products is prohibited. Taking those matters into account, it is appropriate to amend Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 in order to provide the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of GMOs and GM food and feed in all or part of their territory, on the basis of compelling grounds compatible with Union law - not related to risks to human and animal health and to the environment, as those are already assessed at Union level, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. This possibility should not apply to GMOs for cultivation which are already covered by the amendments made to Directive 2001/18/EC, by Directive (EU) 2015/412.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) Member States should therefore be allowed to adopt measures restricting or prohibiting the use in all or part of their territory of a GMO or a GM food and feed, or group of GMOs or of GM food and feed, once authorised, provided that such measures are reasoned, based on compelling grounds in accordance with Union law, and are in line with the principles of proportionality and non- discrimination between national and non- national products, and Article 34, Article 36 and Article 216(2) of TFEU.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

~~(9) The restrictions or prohibitions adopted pursuant to this Regulation should refer to the use and not to the free circulation and imports of genetically modified food and feed.~~deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10) The level of protection of human and animal health and of the environment achieved through the authorisation procedure provided for by Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 requires a uniform scientific assessment throughout the Union and this Regulation should not alter that situation. Therefore to avoid any interference with the competences which are granted to the risk assessors and risk managers under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, Member States should not be authorised to use grounds which are related to risks to health and to the environment which should be dealt with in accordance with the procedure already established in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, and in particular its Articles 10, 22 and 34.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) Member States's measures adopted pursuant to this Regulation should be subject to a procedure of scrutiny and information at Union level with a view to the functioning of the internal market. In light of the level of scrutiny and information provided in this Regulation, it is not necessary to provide, in addition, for the application of Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council15 . The amendments being made to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 by this Regulation provide that Member States may restrict or prohibit the use of GMOs or GM food and feed in all or part of their territory for the whole duration of the authorisation, provided that an established standstill period, during which the Commission and the other Member States are given the opportunity to comment on the proposed measures, has elapsed. The Member State concerned should therefore communicate a draft of those measures to the Commission at least 3 months prior to their adoption, in order to give the opportunity to the Commission and the other Member States to comment, and should refrain from adopting and implementing those measures during that period. On the expiry of the established “standstill” period, the Member State should be able to adopt the measures as originally proposed or amended to take into account the Commission's or the Member States' comments. Member States should be allowed to notify to the Commission measures pursuant to this Regulation before that the product concerned by the measures is authorised so that the restriction or the prohibition starts its effects as from the date of entry into force of the Union authorisation. __________________ 15Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services (OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37).deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) In the case where a product was lawfully used before a Member State adopts measures pursuant to this Regulation, sufficient time should be given to operators to allow the phasing out of the product from the market.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) Measures adopted pursuant to this Regulation, which restrict or prohibit the use of GMOs or GM food and feed should not affect the use in other Member States of these products as well as of products derived from their consumption. In addition, this Regulation and the national measures adopted pursuant to it should be without prejudice to Union law requirements concerning unintended and adventitious presence of GM material in other products and should not affect the placing on the market and use of products complying with these requirements.deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) Regulation (ECU) No 1829/200311 should be amended accordingly,

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003
Article 34a

~~[…]~~deleted

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Bart STAES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)

Article 1 a Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 is hereby amended as follows: (1) The following recital 11a (new) is inserted: (11a) (new) The area of GMO authorizations, be it via Directive 2001/18/EC or via Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, is the only field where regularly neither the responsible committee, nor the Council comes to an opinion (no qualified majority either in favour or against the authorisation). As the area is very sensitive for European citizens, the Commission needs a clear indication on how to act in such cases. (2) Recital 14 is changed as follows: (14) When considering the adoption of other draft implementing acts concerning particularly sensitive sectors, notably taxation, consumer health, food safety and protection of the environment, the Commission, in order to find a balanced solution, will, as far as possible, act in such a way as to avoid going against any predominant position which might emerge within the appeal committee against the appropriateness of an implementing act. With regard to the sensitive field of GMO authorisations, no draft implementing act authorising a GMO should be adopted if a simple majority of the component members of the committee opposes it. (3) In Article 6, the following paragraph 3a (new) is inserted: (3a) (new) 'Where no opinion is delivered in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 3, and where the draft implementing act concerns an application for authorisation of a GMO, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC or Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act.' (4) In Article 11, the following second subparagraph is inserted: 'Where the draft implementing act concerns an application for authorisation of a GMO, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC or Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, and where the European Parliament has spoken out against the authorisation, e.g. by means of a resolution, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act.'

2015/09/18
Committee: ENVI

Activities of Bart STAES related to 2015/0093(COD)

Plenary speeches (1)

Shadow reports (1)

Amendments (25)

ParlTrack - 2011-2024