Skip to content
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (D069146/02 – 2020/2892(RSP))

On the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411 and genetically modified maize combining two or three of the single events MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and MON 87411 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

B-9-2020-0413

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Members responsible: Tilly Metz, Günther Sidl, Anja Hazekamp, Eleonora Evi, Sirpa Pietikäinen

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 27 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution objects to a draft Commission decision authorising genetically modified maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411 and six sub-combinations for food and feed. It says the draft exceeds implementing powers, is inconsistent with Union law, and calls on the Commission to withdraw it. It cites unanswered Member State concerns, missing data on the six unauthorised sub-combinations, and gaps in assessment of glyphosate residues, break-down products and Bt proteins. It says safety for human and animal health cannot be concluded. It reiterates calls on the Commission to stop authorising GMOs when Member States deliver no opinion, not to authorise herbicide-tolerant GM crops until health risks are investigated, and not to authorise sub-combinations without full EFSA evaluation. It asks the Commission to develop sustainability criteria with Parliament's involvement, to consider international obligations, and to explain how and when this will be done.

Key points

  1. Parliament considers the draft Commission implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
  2. It considers the draft inconsistent with Union law because it does not match the aim of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 to ensure a high level of protection of human and animal health, welfare, the environment and consumers.
  3. It calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing decision.
  4. It welcomes the Commission's recognition of the need to take sustainability into account in GMO authorisation decisions, but expresses strong disappointment that another GM soybean was authorised on 28 September 2020 despite Parliament's objection and a majority of Member States voting against.
  5. It calls on the Commission to move forward urgently on sustainability criteria with full involvement of Parliament and to provide information on the process and timeframe.
  6. It urges the Commission to take into account the Union's obligations under international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  7. It reiterates its call on the Commission to stop authorising GMOs for cultivation or food and feed uses when no opinion is delivered by Member States in the Appeal Committee, in accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
  8. It reiterates its call not to authorise herbicide-tolerant GM crops until health risks from residues are comprehensively investigated case by case, including residues from spraying, break-down products and combinatorial effects.
  9. It reiterates its call not to authorise any sub-combinations of stacked GM events unless thoroughly evaluated by EFSA on the basis of complete data from the applicant.
  10. It considers that approving varieties with no safety data, no testing, or not yet created runs contrary to the principles of general food law laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
  11. It reiterates its call on EFSA to further develop and systematically use methods to identify unintended effects of stacked GM events, such as the adjuvant properties of Bt proteins.

Who is affected

  • The Commission: called on to withdraw the draft decision, stop authorising GMOs in certain cases, and develop sustainability criteria.
  • The European Food Safety Authority: called on to develop and use methods to identify unintended effects of stacked GM events.
  • Member States: their concerns and lack of qualified majority support are cited; their governments and parliaments receive the resolution.
  • The applicant (Monsanto Europe N.V. on behalf of Monsanto company): its application and missing data for six sub-combinations are cited.

Figures and deadlines

  • 24 May 2017: date Monsanto Europe N.V. submitted the application.
  • 26 September 2019: date EFSA adopted its opinion.
  • 7 November 2019: date EFSA's opinion was published.
  • 26 October 2020: date of the Standing Committee vote at which no opinion was delivered.
  • 11 September 2020: date of the Commission letter to Members recognising the need to take sustainability into account.
  • 28 September 2020: date the Commission authorised another GM soybean for import.
  • 36 resolutions: total adopted by Parliament in its eighth term objecting to GMO authorisations.
  • Eleven objections: adopted by Parliament in its ninth term to date.