Member States GM Crop Vote - But There’s No Qualified Majority

28 Mar 2017 --- The majority of European member states stood firm on their position regarding genetically modified crops yesterday (Mar 27) by voting against a proposal to authorize two new strains of GM maize.

The two maize varieties - GM maize types from Syngenta and Dow-Pioneer with the technical names BT11 and 1507 - are the first new GM crops since 1998. 

The two new crops are resistant to the highly toxic herbicide produced by Bayer (glufosinate) and harm certain specific maize pests as well as butterflies.

Although most EU countries voted against the proposal, the votes did not decisively block their entry to the EU because there was no qualified majority.

The outcome counts as a "no opinion" meaning the final decision now rests with the European Commission.

This issue has been polarizing opinion for many months with several environmentalists and campaign groups, including Friends of the Earth, fighting against approving the GM crops. 

“Whether he likes it or not, the buck now stops at Jean-Claude Juncker. He can put himself on the side of the majority of countries, citizens and farmers who do not want genetically-modified crops, or he can back the mega-corporations behind the industrialization of our countryside,” says food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, Mute Schimpf.

She adds that the European Commission also needs to decide on the fate of the only genetically-modified crop grown in Europe, Monsanto's MON810, which produces toxins that kill maize pests. MON810 is already banned in 17 EU countries, and grown on less than 1% of agricultural land, mainly in Spain and Portugal.

“There is no political or public support for genetically-modified crops; farmers don't even want them. It's time for President Juncker to pull the plug on this failed technology once and for all, and to focus on how we make farming resilient to climate change, save family farms and stop the destruction of nature. It's time to close our countryside to genetically-modified crops and move on.”

Here is a breakdown of the votes:
On renewal of GM maize MON 810: eight member states voted in favor, representing 34.45% of the EU population: CZ, EE, ES, NL, RO, FI, SV, UK.

Six member states abstained, representing 22.26% of the EU population: BE, DE, HR, MT, PT, SK.

14 member states voted to reject, representing 43.29% of the EU population: BG, DK, IE, EL, FR, CY, LV, LU, HU, AT, PL, SL, IT, LT 14.

On authorization of GM maize 1507: six member states voted in favor, representing 30.45% of the EU population: EE, ES, NL, RO, FI, UK.

Six member states abstained, representing 22.28% of the EU population: BE, CZ, DE, HR, MT, SK.

16 member states voted to reject, representing 47.27% of the EU population: BG, DK, IE, EL, FR, CY, LV, LU, HU, AT, PL, SL, SV, IT, LT, PT.

On authorization of GM maize Bt 11:Six member states voted in favor, representing 30.45% of the EU population: EE, ES, NL, RO, FI, UK.

Six member states abstained, representing 22.28% of the EU population: BE, CZ, DE, HR, MT, SK.

16 member states voted to reject, representing 47.27% of the EU population: BG, DK, IE, EL, FR, CY, LV, LU, HU, AT, PL, SL, SV, IT, LT, PT 47,27%.

The European Commission legal service has underlined that President Juncker can withdraw GM maize applications at any stage.