The European Parliament adopted by 474 votes to 171, with 13 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2628 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 21 October 2022, Corteva Agriscience Belgium BV, based in Belgium, on behalf of Corteva Agriscience LLC, based in the United States, and Bayer Agriculture BV, based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP based in the United States, jointly submitted an application to the Commission for the renewal of the authorisation of genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603. EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, which was published on 26 April 2024.

The GM maize contains genes conferring resistance to glyphosate and produces insecticidal proteins (‘Bt toxins’).

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.

Questions remain about whether glyphosate is carcinogenic . The European Chemicals Agency concluded in March 2017 that no classification was warranted. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans.

Parliament stressed that questions remained regarding Bt toxins and the effects on non-target organisms of the use of genetically modified Bt crops .

Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA including that the list of relevant studies, identified in the literature review of the applicant, did not include studies on the fate of Bt-proteins in the environment or on potential effects of Bt-crop residues on non-target organisms even though such studies exist.

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. Members also insisted on the need 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) 2024/2628 and 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;

- 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

T10-0038/2024

B10-0148/2024