Resolution on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207

The European Parliament adopted by 464 votes to 163, with 27 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207.

On 6 October 2022, Bayer Agriculture BV, based in Belgium, submitted on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States, an application concerning the renewal of the marketing authorisation for animal feed containing genetically modified maize MON 810. EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, which was published on 19 January 2024.

The GM maize has been modified to produce insecticides (‘Bt toxins’).

According to Parliament, questions remain concerning 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 compositional data for the GM maize should be checked and re-analysed and that the analysis should fulfil the present EFSA requirements, inter alia equivalence testing, and that the literature review did not include studies on the fate of Cry1Ab in the environment or on potential effects of Bt-crop residues on non-target organisms.

Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 requires the Commission to take into account, when drafting its decision, legitimate factors should include the Union’s obligations under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

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) 2024/1828;

- 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