GUE/NGL MEPs welcomed the rejection by the European Parliament's Environment (ENVI) Committee today of a European Commission proposal on the possibility for member states to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territories.

The resolution rejecting the Commission's proposal on GMOs passed with 47 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions.

Reacting to the vote, Irish GUE/NGL MEP Lynn Boylan said: “This Commission proposal has been roundly and rightly rejected by MEPs today. By putting this proposal on the table, President Juncker failed to fulfil his promise to bridge the democratic deficit which exists for decision-making on GMOs in the EU.”

She continued: “It is excellent news that the ENVI Committee has voted to reject this half-baked proposal but it is now essential that the European Commission comes forward with a new serious offer which is fit-for-purpose. The citizens of Europe have serious and just concerns regarding the use of GMOs and they must be addressed.”

German MEP Stefan Eck added: “With today's vote, the ENVI Committee proved once again that it is attentive to the public's expectations and legitimate concerns.

“We fulfilled our duty by lending an attentive ear to the majority of EU citizens who are sceptical about GM crops in food and agriculture.

“The EU’s current GM crop approval system is based on a poor and incomplete assessment of their health and environmental risks. Any other legitimate concerns, such as their impact on conventional and organic farmers or in animal and human health, are ignored.”

MEP Eck concluded: “The Commission should be more careful when it comes to the safety of the food we, and our animals, eat and the environment in which we live”.

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20