Genetically modified maize
Following a meeting of Regulatory Committee on 29 November 2004, the Committee decided to pass on to the Council of Ministers the decision about the import and processing of the genetically modified maize known as MON 863.
The Committee, set up under the Directive on the deliberate release into the environment of GMOs and bringing together representative of Member States, did not reach the qualified majority necessary to support the Commission proposal to authorise the maize.
The Council can either adopt or reject the proposal with a qualified majority of votes. However, if no decision is taken within three months, the file will return to the Commission which can then adopt it.
This is the route that other decisions on GMOs have also taken as Member States continue to disagree on the issue. In June, EU environment ministers failed to agree to authorise GM maize NK603 - which was then referred to the European Commission for decision.
Genetically modified oilseed rape
The Environment Council of 20 December 2004, was unable to agree on authorising imports of the genetically modified oilseed rape, called GT73.
Neither the ministers opposed to the GMO nor those in favour achieved the necessary qualified majority to take the decision.
Since the Council failed to reach a decision within three months, the case will now go back to the Commission, according to EU’s complex decision-making rules.
As with several other GM products, the Commission is expected to give the green light to the imports of the new oilseed rape.
The EU restarted approving new GMO products for import in May 2004, ending the unofficial moratorium that began in 1998.
Related EPHA’s article:
Commission to adopt proposal to authorise a type of GMO maize
