The European Parliament adopted by 483 votes to 178, with 25 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing genetically modified maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × NK603 and genetically modified maize combining two or three of the single events MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and NK603.

The application for marketing authorisation was submitted by Monsanto Europe N.V., on behalf of Monsanto, USA, to the competent authority of the Netherlands on 15 February 2016. On 22 May 2019, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted an opinion in favour of the application.

Main comments from the Member States

Members recalled that Member States have forwarded numerous critical comments to EFSA, including the fact that no analysis has been carried out on residues of glyphosate or glyphosate metabolites on stacked GM maize and the potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of the ‘Cry’ and ‘Vip’ proteins as well as herbicide residues.

An independent scientific analysis concluded, inter alia, that no definitive conclusion could be drawn regarding the safety of stacked GM maize. In addition, the applicant did not provide experimental data for the six currently unauthorised sub-combinations of the stacked GM maize.

Lack of evaluation of herbicide residues, metabolites and cocktail effects

Members pointed out that herbicide-tolerant genetically modified crops are leading to an increase in the use of ‘complementary’ herbicides, in particular due to the emergence of herbicide-tolerant weeds. It can therefore be expected that the stacked GM will be repeatedly exposed to higher rates of glyphosate, which could lead to an increase in the amount of residues in the crops.

In addition, there are still questions about the carcinogenicity of glyphosate. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has, contrary to the EFSA and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans.

Lastly, as several studies have shown, side effects have been observed that may disrupt the immune system following exposure to Bt proteins and that some Bt proteins may have adjuvant properties, meaning that they may enhance the allergenic properties of other proteins with which they come into contact.

Undemocratic decision-making

Members recalled that in the September vote, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health decided not to give an opinion, meaning that the authorisation was not supported by a qualified majority of Member States.

The Commission has repeatedly deplored the fact that decisions on the authorisation of GMOs continue to be adopted by the Commission without a qualified majority of Member States being in favour, which is largely the exception for product authorisations as a whole, but has become the norm for decisions on GM food and feed authorisations.

Recommendations

Based on these considerations, Parliament considered that the Commission's implementing decision was not compatible with EU law. Consequently, it called on the Commission to:

- withdraw its draft implementing decision;

- make progress on the development of sustainability criteria, with full involvement of the Parliament;

- take into account the Union's obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN sustainable development goals;

- stop authorising GMOs, whether for cultivation or for use as food or feed, where no opinion is given by Member States in the Appeal Committee;

- not to authorise herbicide-tolerant GM crops until the health risks associated with residues have been thoroughly investigated on a case-by-case basis;

- to take full account of the risk assessment of the use of complementary herbicides and their residues in the risk assessment of herbicide-tolerant GM crops, irrespective of whether the crop concerned is intended to be grown in the EU or imported into the EU as food or feed;

- allowing sub-combinations of stacked events only if they have been thoroughly evaluated by EFSA on the basis of complete data submitted by the applicant.

EFSA is called on to further develop and systematically use methods that permit the identification of unintended effects of stacked GM events.