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Genetically modified maize MIR604 (SYN-IR6Ø4-5)

TA-9-2020-0367 · P9_TA(2020)0367 · PE661.544

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 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 objects to a draft Commission decision renewing the authorisation of genetically modified maize MIR604 for food and feed. It says the draft exceeds the Commission's implementing powers and is not consistent with Union law. It calls on the Commission to withdraw the draft and to stop authorising genetically modified organisms when member states deliver no opinion in the Appeal Committee. It asks the Commission to develop sustainability criteria for authorisation decisions and to take account of international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. It calls on the European Food Safety Authority to widen its risk assessment to interactions and combinatorial effects, to require tests on tissue from the genetically modified plant, to cover more agronomic and environmental conditions and varieties, and to request data on the intestinal microbiome.

Key points

  1. Parliament considers that the draft Commission implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.
  2. It considers the draft not consistent with Union law, because it is not compatible with the aim of ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests.
  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 authorisation decisions on genetically modified organisms, but expresses strong disappointment that another genetically modified soybean was authorised on 28 September 2020.
  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 genetically modified organisms when no opinion is delivered by member states in the Appeal Committee.
  8. It calls on the European Food Safety Authority to accept the differences between native Bt proteins and those expressed by synthetic transgenes and to widen its risk assessment to all interactions and combinatorial effects.
  9. It calls on the European Food Safety Authority to no longer accept toxicity studies based on isolated proteins and to require all tests to be carried out with tissue from the genetically modified plant.
  10. It calls on the European Food Safety Authority to ensure field trial or greenhouse data cover a sufficiently broad range of agronomic and environmental conditions and of different varieties.
  11. It calls on the European Food Safety Authority to request data on the impact on the intestinal microbiome of consuming food and feed derived from genetically modified plants.

Who is affected

  • The Commission, which is asked to withdraw the draft decision, stop certain authorisations and develop sustainability criteria.
  • The European Food Safety Authority, which is asked to widen its risk assessment and change its requirements for studies and data.
  • Member states, whose governments and parliaments are to receive the resolution.

Figures and deadlines

  • 26 October 2020: vote of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at which no opinion was delivered.
  • 2 July 2009: date the European Food Safety Authority adopted a favourable opinion on the initial authorisation application.
  • 25 September 2019: date the European Food Safety Authority adopted a favourable opinion on the renewal application.
  • 26 July 2018: date the authorisation holder submitted the renewal application to the Commission.
  • 11 September 2020: date of the Commission's letter to Members recognising the need to take sustainability into account.
  • 28 September 2020: date the Commission authorised another genetically modified soybean for import.
  • 36 resolutions objecting to genetically modified organisms in Parliament's eighth term (33 on food and feed, three on cultivation).
  • Eleven objections adopted by Parliament in its ninth term.

Legal basis: Articles 11(3) and 23(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.