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 cotton MON 88913 (MON-88913-8), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

B100492/2025

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 cotton MON 88913 (MON-88913-8), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(D109631/01 – 2025/2894(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton MON 88913 (MON-88913-8) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D109631/01),

– 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 26 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 Safety,

A. whereas Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/688 of 24 April 2015 authorised the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton MON 88913 (the ‘GM cotton’);

B. whereas on 28 February 2024, Bayer Agriculture B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States, 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; 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 cotton for the same uses as any other cotton, with the exception of cultivation;

D. whereas EFSA issued a favourable opinion on 26 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 2013;

E. whereas EFSA’s assessment did not include new long-term feeding studies or address cumulative, combinatorial or indirect effects on human health, animal health and the environment;

F. whereas the GM cotton is herbicide-tolerant to glyphosate; whereas glyphosate is associated with potential endocrine-disrupting effects and other environmental and health concerns, while also contributing to biodiversity loss through herbicide-intensive agricultural practices;

G. whereas questions concerning the carcinogenicity of glyphosate remain; whereas EFSA concluded in November 2015 that glyphosate was unlikely to be carcinogenic and the European Chemicals Agency concluded in March 2017 that no classification was warranted; whereas, on the contrary, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans; whereas a number of recent peer-reviewed scientific studies confirm the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate;

H. whereas cotton production, including GM herbicide-tolerant varieties, is associated with high pesticide use, negative impacts on soil and water quality, and socio-economic consequences for farming communities;

I. whereas independent monitoring and surveillance remain insufficient, particularly regarding long-term environmental effects on pollinators, soil organisms and non-target species;

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 a comprehensive assessment of interlinkages between human, animal, plant and environmental health, which is not reflected in the Commission draft implementing decision;

L. whereas Parliament has repeatedly objected to the authorisation or renewal of GMOs in cases where no qualified majority is reached by Member States in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed or the Appeal Committee, underlining the persistent democratic deficit in the authorisation 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 cotton due to concerns linked to herbicide use, biodiversity impacts and insufficient evidence on long-term safety, 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.