At least 15 countries and 4 regions - representing 65% of EU's population and 65% of its arable land – move toward national GE bans in EU, with more expected by Oct. 3 deadline

Distrust over EU GM crop approvals grows as at least 15 countries move towards national bans

Press release - October 1, 2015

PRESS RELEASE UPDATED TO INCLUDE BULGARIA, CYPRUS AND WALES NOTIFICATIONS FOR GM CROP CULTIVATION BANS

Brussels – In the latest blow to the European Commission’s laissez-faire approach to GM crops, at least 15 EU countries and four regions (in two other countries) are in the process of banning the cultivation of GM crops on their territories, with more expected to follow by a 3 October deadline for notifications to the EU, said Greenpeace.

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On 1 October, ten EU countries (Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland) and four regional administrations (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK, and Wallonia in Belgium) had already formally notified the Commission of their intention to ban GM crop cultivation under new EU rules [1]. Statements by governments to the media also inform of impending notifications by five additional countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia) [2].

This brings the total number of countries who have already declared their intention to put in place GM crop bans to 15 – plus four regions – representing 65 per cent of the EU’s population and 65 per cent of its arable land. More countries are expected to follow suit as the deadline approaches.

The bans currently notified apply to the only GM crop currently approved for cultivation in Europe – Monsanto’s pesticide-producing GM maize, known as MON810 – but also to the seven GM crops awaiting approval by the Commission [3]. These are all GM maizes [4].

Nine EU countries (Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and Poland) had previously banned cultivation of MON810 under so-called safeguard clauses.

Greenpeace EU food policy director Franziska Achterberg said: “A clear majority of the EU’s governments are rejecting the Commission’s drive for GM crop approvals. They don’t trust EU safety assessments and are rightly taking action to protect their agriculture and food. The only way to restore trust in the EU system now is for the Commission to hit the pause button on GM crop approvals and to urgently reform safety testing and the approval system.”

In July 2014, Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that the Commission should not be able to force through GM crops against a majority of EU countries [5]. The Commission is yet to deliver a legislative proposal that can achieve this. A revised EU risk assessment scheme, called for by EU environment ministers in 2008, has similarly not been implemented. Current risk assessments by the EU’s food safety authority also ignore EU rules in place since 2001 (Directive 2001/18) for more in-depth and independent testing of GM crops.

Notes:

[1] Under EU Directive 2015/412, governments can ask biotech companies whose GM crops have already been authorised for cultivation in the EU, or are pending approval, not to market their crops on their territory. The companies – Dow, Monsanto, Syngenta and Pioneer – can then accept or refuse these opt-outs, without having to justify their response. Governments can also legislate to ban individual or groups of GM crops approved in the EU. The Commission list of notifications for national bans:http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/new/authorisation/cultivation/geographical_scope_en.htm.

[2] Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Slovenia announced they intend to send the Commission notification of national bans: http://bit.ly/1M3rZUj;http://www.ft.dk/samling/20142/almdel/mof/bilag/83/1548687.pdf;http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5N1204FY20150930;http://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITKCN0RV47Y20151001;http://www.rtvslo.si/okolje/gensko-spremenjeni-organizmi-izkljuceni-iz-slovenije/375120.

[3] Denmark is requesting bans for MON810 and only three other GM crops pending approval.

[4] The pending authorisations include Pioneer’s pesticide-producing GM maize, known as 1507, whose EU approval was opposed by 19 out of 28 EU countries in February 2014:http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2014/Record-number-of-EU-countries-opposes-Commission-plan-to-allow-pesticide-producing-GM-maize.

[5] Juncker said: “[I] would not want the Commission to be able to take a decision when a majority of Member States has not encouraged it to do so”: Political Guidelines for the next European Commission (July 2014): http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/docs/pg_en.pdf

Contacts:

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

Franziska Achterberg – Greenpeace EU food policy director: +32 (0)498 362403,franziska.achterberg@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.