Articles

Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, IFOAM

Press release - April 8, 2015

Brussels – A new plan by the European Commission to review the way decisions are made on genetically modified (GM) crops could break a promise by its president, Jean-Claude Juncker, to make the EU system more democratic. In a letter released today, environment and food NGOs, and organic farmers warn that the plan, due to be released next week, would mean the Commission could continue to authorise GM crops despite the opposition of a majority of national governments, the European Parliament and public opinion.

In a speech at the European Parliament on 15 July 2014, Juncker pledged that the Commission would reform the GM crop authorisation system. He said that he “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”.

However, the plan could allow the Commission to open the EU market to GM crops, including in the context of trade negotiations with the US. US authorities are pressing the Commission to wave through 17 GM crops that are pending approval for import into the EU.