European Politicians Reject GMO Maize Cultivation

10 Oct 2016 --- European Parliament has rejected three varieties of GMO maize for cultivation across member states in a recent vote - this is the fifth time in a year politicians have opposed the genetically modified crop but it is still not the end of the issue in Europe.

Although a clear majority of MPs rejected the three varieties of GMO maize as well as one variety of maize and one variety of cotton for import and use in food and feed, the objection does not block the process and member states are expected to vote on these authorizations next month. 

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has been lobbying against GMO cultivation in Europe. 

“This is the fifth time in a year that the European Parliament has objected to the approval of GMOs and the vote shows the European Parliament is continuing to express the wishes of EU citizens for a GMO-free agriculture. It is now time for member states to be coherent with their national bans, take action and vote against these GMOs in November,” says IFOAM EU Director
Eduardo Cuoco. 

IFOAM claims that every new GMO authorization heightens the risk of contamination and significantly increases the costs of remaining GMO free and that GMOs especially jeopardize the development of organic, which are GMO-free by definition and is a €24-billion market in the EU, growing at 7.4 percent per year. GMOs also increase the use of chemical herbicides which are forbidden in organic farming. 

“The efforts of the European organic and conventional food sectors to remain GMO-free would be jeopardized if new GMOs are authorized for cultivation in the EU. It is time for Mr Juncker to fulfil his pledge to reform the undemocratic EU authorization system for GMOs,” adds IFOAM EU policy manager Eric Gall.
 
There are 17 member states and four regions that have opted out of the cultivation of these GMOs, leaving only nine countries where they could be grown if the EU Commission approves them.