EU legislation on GMOs:Overview and challenges

Euro Coop Sustainability Working Group 27 October 2010

Sébastien GouxUnit Biotechnologies

EU legislation on GMOs

Safety Each GMO MUST be authorised

Information => Labelling All GM food containing or produced

from GMOs (e.g. oil, sugar) All GM feed containing or produced

from GMOs

Regulation on Food and Feed:a fully integrated approach

GM SEEDS

GM FOOD - containing or

consisting of GMOs

-produced fromGMOs

GM FEED - containing or

consisting of GMOs

- produced fromGMOs

ENVI

Risk

Food/Feed

Risk

Authorisation procedure

Authorisation aspects

Panels & Units GMOPanels & Units GMO

GMO ApplicationsGMO Applications

http://efsa.europa.euhttp://efsa.europa.eu

Authorisation procedureafter EFSA opinion

Standing Committee (SCFCAH – GMFF)Opinion, 3 months after EFSA’s opinion

Commission

In favour, QM

Commission decision - Publication in OJ- Inclusion in GMO register

No Opinion

Council, 3 monthsNo opinion /In favour, QM

Against, QM

Commission to redraft the proposal

Against, QM

Comments from The public

EFSA’s Final opinion

Commission Proposal of Decision

Commission Working group

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

GM Food & FeedGM Food & Feed

http://eu.europa.eu/foodhttp://eu.europa.eu/food

Community Registerof GM Food and Feed

GMO authorised for cultivation

Maize MON810 Amflora Starch potato

The EU legislative framework on GMOs is under tension

The societal debateEurobarometer 64.3 (2006)

Bt maize yields v conventional maize in 3 regions of Spain (JRC-IPTS study)

1,8%

-1,3%

0,5%

10,9%

4,3%

1,5%

12,1%11,8%

11,6%

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Albacete Lleida Zaragoza

2002

2003

2004

Surface(2005) 7957 ha 16830 ha 21259 ha

Surface (2007) 3659 ha 23013 ha 35860 ha

Evolution -54 % + 37% + 68%

GM feed: A set of actions regardingthe issue of asynchronous authorisations

Within the EU Streamlining the authorisation procedure Harmonisation of controls Evaluation of the legislative framework

At International level

New approach on cultivation:Strategy in two steps

New Recommendation on coexistence

Non binding actMore flexible guidance to Member States

on how to avoid presence of GMOs in other products

Proposal for an EP and Council Regulation modifying Directive 2001/18/EC

Objective To provide a legal base for MS which want to

ban or restrict cultivation of authorised GMOs

Conditions Not linked to safety In agreement with EU law and international

obligations

Looking ahead – Major challenges

Cultivation – Implementation of new Commission approach

• Co-existence => Organic, non-GM and GM• Restrictions by Member States

Evaluation of EU GM legislative framework Societal/Political debate

– Responsible innovation Safety: Food, Feed & Environment Economic impacts Debate on labelling requirements

– Use of GM feed– GMO free

Thank you !