A draft EU law that would enable any member state to restrict or prohibit the use of EU-approved GMO food or feed on its territory was strongly opposed by MEPs from all political groups in a recent debate. Members were concerned that the draft did not include an impact assessment, that member state measures might not be compatible with single market or WTO rules and that the proposal might prove unworkable.
“There is a clear majority in the European Parliament against this proposal” said Environment Committee chair Giovanni La Via whose draft report recommends rejecting the draft legislation. “There is no impact assessment around this draft, and we believe that this was not the best proposal possible” he said.
“This proposal is in conflict with the principles of “better regulation” and transparency which the new European Commission has taken on… After so many years we have spent on getting rid of internal barriers, this proposal could fragment the internal market and lead to border inspections, and we all worked to get rid of those, back in the day”
“I ask you to reconsider your position towards this proposal” said the European Commission representative Ladislav Miko. “Our Commissioner gave a very clear answer already: we don’t have any plan B for this proposal… If the proposal is rejected, we will stay in the current situation”.
Next steps
The Environment Committee will vote on the proposal on October 12 – 13. The file will then be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole at the October 26-29 plenary session in Strasbourg.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: GMO imports: MEPs object to draft law allowing national bans, call for plan B
