Corporate Europe Observatory and Greenpeace respond to today's vote

1. EU countries bring deregulation of new GMOs one step closer – but fight not over yet – Corporate Europe Observatory
2. EU governments back loophole for new GMOs – Greenpeace
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1. EU countries bring deregulation of new GMOs one step closer – but fight not over yet
Reaction of Corporate Europe Observatory to today's vote for GMO deregulation

Today EU countries have given a mandate to start negotiations on the deregulation of new GM crops (also called NGTs). Today's meeting of EU ambassadors saw for the first time a qualified majority in favour of deregulation. This comes after a massive lobby attack by the biotech industry lobby groups, lasting over a decade.(1)

The proposal by the Polish Presidency would mean that new GM crops would enter the market without any safety checks, consumer labelling, monitoring or liability rules; and that independent seed breeders will be left in the dark about patents, and face higher costs. Farmers will become more dependent on biotech seed multinationals.

However, all is not over yet. Belgium made a statement that they only agreed to give the green light to start negotiations if some conditions are met, which probably cover the problems of patents and consumer labelling. The European Parliament position also opposes the patenting of (deregulated) new GM crops.

The Polish Presidency played a highly dubious role. Last year only, Poland vehemently opposed patented crops in Europe’s fields. Once taking the Presidency it very quickly flipped around, coming up with a proposal void of any meaning - only mentioning a voluntary disclosure of patent information on a GM crop, unverified by any authority.(2)

An investigation published in EU Observer exposed the levels to which pressure was put on Poland. Big biotech multinationals tried to convince Polish seed companies to join their patent platform. This would then convince governments that many seed breeders embraced that system already.

In the article a Polish independent seed company was quoted as saying: “If the NGT law will go like the big guys want it to go, there will be only a few suppliers of seeds on the market... So besides losing competition, it is also really about losing control over the food supply chain.”

Nina Holland of Corporate Europe Observatory comments: “EU countries have come one step close to sell out their food system to just a handful of corporations like Bayer and BASF, that are at the same time the largest pesticide producers. Again, it is the people that will pay the bill: risks to the environment and health will no longer be considered. This while corporations are allowed to increase their profits due to patents on GM crops. However, both in EU countries and in the European Parliament, major concerns about the impacts of this deregulation remain. This is not over yet."

Notes

(1) As exposed by Corporate Europe Observatory, the biotech lobby campaign involved mobilising ‘like-minded’ officials in national ministries, unproven promises of ‘benefits’, and setting up various lobby platforms to push for deregulation at the EU-level. In some countries, biotech researchers (often with a direct interested in the development of the technology themselves) [are mobilised as lobbyists].

(2) The proposed study and expert group on the impacts of patents on new GMOs are unlikely to make any difference once patented new GMO varieties are already being deregulated and allowed on the market untested.
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2. EU governments back loophole for new GMOs
Reaction of Greenpeace to today's vote for GMO deregulation

EU governments have supported a loophole for new genetically modified crops (GMOs) in the EU’s regulations to protect people and nature from potential risks, a move that Greenpeace said ignored concerns from farmers and consumers.

Greenpeace EU GMO campaigner Eva Corral said: “The governments who backed this loophole for new GMOs are telling their citizens and farmers that they don’t care if unregulated genetically modified plants end up in their plates and fields against their will. This would open a pandora’s box of risks for citizens, farms, small plant breeders and nature. The European Parliament must now step up to protect people and nature.”

Next steps

The approval by the deputy ambassadors from EU countries paves the way for negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the loophole. The European Commission initially proposed the loophole for new GMOs in 2023.