05 March The EU wants to bring new genetic engineering to our plates
Study shows how strongly the EU Commission favors industrial interests in a consultation on new genetic engineering regulations
Brussels, March 5, 2021 - According to a study by Friends of the Earth Europe the EU Commission is breaking its own transparency requirements in a consultation on new regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In particular, representatives of the industry were disproportionately favored: "To be honest, I am very shocked to learn of such behavior by the Commission," comments Manuela Ripa, MEP of the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP).
"With the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission has committed itself to an EU that is intended to ensure a sustainable food system. Now the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety seems to have a great interest in giving the industry as much leeway as possible. In other words: more genetically modified food without safety checks or any corresponding labels. This is yet another decision against the EU Green Deal and against consumers: We don't need more genetic engineering on our fields and plates, we need none at all! In addition, the Commission is violating its own transparency requirements by continuing to keep the responses from this consultation under wraps. The results must be published immediately!"
We don't need more genetic engineering on our fields and plates, we need none at all!
Background
According to an analysis by Friends of the Earth Europe, the EU Commission invited mainly industry stakeholders to a consultation on the future regulation of new GMOs in the EU. A full 74 percent of the stakeholders present at this consultation had a financial interest in exempting new GMOs from safety regulations. Only around 14 percent of stakeholders had a civil law background and therefore no financial interest. Only 2 percent of the experts consulted came from the field of research. As a result, twice as many of the EU Commission's questions were aimed at the supposed benefits of new GMOs.
The results of this consultation will be incorporated into a study by the EU Commission on the regulation of new GMOs in the EU.