On the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87427, pursuant to Regulation No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

B100491/2025

European Parliament resolution on the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87427 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D109634/01 – 2025/2897(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Commission implementing decision on renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87427 pursuant to Regulation No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D109634/01),

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed, and in particular Article 11(3) and Article 23(3) thereof,

– having regard to the vote of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, on 15 September 2025, at which no opinion was delivered,

– having regard to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers,

– having regard to the opinion adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 27 March 2025, and published on 13 May 2025,

– having regard to its previous resolutions objecting to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (‘GMOs’),

– having regard to Rule 115(2) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food

A. whereas Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2281 of 4 December 2015 authorised the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87427 (the ‘GM maize);

B. whereas on 19 March 2024, Bayer Agriculture B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States of America, submitted an application to the Commission, in accordance with Articles 11 and 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003,for the renewal of that authorisation;

C. whereas the scope of the renewal application covers food and feed containing, consisting of or produced from the GM maize, and products containing or consisting of it for other uses than food and feed, with the exception of cultivation; whereas the scope of that authorisation also covers the placing on the market of products, other than food and feed, containing or consisting of the GM maize for the same uses as any other maize, with the exception of cultivation;

D. whereas EFSA issued a favourable opinion on 27 March 2025, concluding that the renewal application did not contain evidence of new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of its original risk assessment issued in 2015;

E. whereas EFSA’s assessment did not sufficiently address cumulative and combinatorial effects, long-term toxicological studies or indirect ecological consequences of increased glyphosate use;

F. whereas the GM maize is tolerant to glyphosate; whereas glyphosate has been associated with risks to biodiversity, soil and water health, as well as potential impacts on human health;

G. whereas the large-scale cultivation of glyphosate-tolerant GM crops in exporting countries has led to higher herbicide use, the emergence of resistant weeds, and negative consequences for farming systems, ecosystems and rural communities;

H. whereas the monitoring plan for environmental effects provided for in the draft Commission implementing decision relies largely on general surveillance without providing for targeted, independent long-term studies on pollinators, soil organisms, aquatic life and non-target species;

I. whereas the precautionary principle, enshrined in Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, should apply in cases of scientific uncertainty and evidence of potential harm;

J. whereas Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 requires that GM food and feed must not have adverse effects on human health, animal health or the environment;

K. whereas the One Health approach requires taking into account the interdependence between human, animal, plant and environmental health when assessing the long-term sustainability and safety of GMOs;

L. whereas Parliament has consistently objected to GMO authorisations and renewals in cases where no qualified majority is reached among Member States in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed or the Appeal Committee, underlining the persistent democratic deficit in the decision-making procedure;

1. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003;

2. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision is not consistent with Union law, in that it is incompatible with the aim of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, which is, in accordance with the general principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council, to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, in relation to GM food and feed, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market and in line with the precautionary principle;

3. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing decision;

4. Calls on the Commission not to renew the authorisation of the GM maize due to the risks associated with glyphosate use, resistant weeds, biodiversity loss and insufficient long-term evidence, in line with the One Health approach;

5. Calls on the Commission to submit, without delay, a legislative proposal to reform the decision-making procedure on GMOs in order to respond to the consistent objections of Parliament and the lack of qualified majority support among Member States;

6. Urges the Commission to take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.