On the 5th of June 2008, the EU environment ministers decided that risk assessment procedures within the GMO evaluation and authorisation system needed to be improved. They also agreed on the need of a longer-term discussion on GMOs’ effects on the environment.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has provided scientific advice in this area. It is now necessary to strengthen EFSA’s capacity to evaluate risks and consider the changes in agricultural practices and local geographic conditions, according to European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.
An expert group will be formed to develop ideas that will become the basis of discussion at a later meeting of environment ministers.
A French proposal of a review of the food safety body’s expertise was accepted unanimously. The French minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, stressed at the same time that the review would not lead to the banning of GMOs. He still wanted to see the commercialisation of GMOs, except where the products present a clear danger to health.
Stavros Dimas stated that the review would probably result in a greater role for member states with regards to involvement and responsibility in assessing the safety of GMOs.
Environmental campaigners welcomed the move and as Marco Contiero from Greenpeace Europe said: "It is now clear that the authorisation process must be halted until risk assessment procedures are truly independent and compliant with EU legal requirements."
Earlier this year the green group and Friends of the Earth called for EFSA to be reformed. They complained that EFSA is understaffed and lacking in appropriate expertise. Added to which, some member states have expressed concerns about EFSA being biased, ’giving the nod’ to GMOs without the necessary research.
*Update*
On 11 Septembre, the Joint Research Centre, the European Union’s scientific and technical research laboratory, released a study on the health impact of GM foods. While admitting that “little is known about the potential long term health effects” of GM foods, it said foods put forward for regulatory approval to date had not had harmful effects.
This report is “extremely disappointing” because it ignored controversy among the scientific community about the risk posed by GM organisms and it would help to allay misconceptions in the public over the safety of GM foods.
This report comes just at the time when the Commission has now authorised soybeans A25704-12 to be brought to Europe to be used in food or animal feed for the next 10 years.
A majority of Europeans – about 58 per cent – are opposed to the use of GM organisms according to a Eurobarometer survey published by Brussels in March. The survey also found people felt they “lacked information”.
For further information
Friends of the Earth Europe website
French Environment Ministry website
EPHA related articles
EPHA communicated position on GMOs to all Commissioners, May 2008
Commission delays approval of an antibiotics resistant potato after strong joint action by Greenpeace, supported by EPHA
EFSA: food can pass resistant bacteria to people
New proposal to revise the EU law on Novel Foods
