No to national restrictions on EU-approved GMOs

Last week, on October 28, the European Parliament voted against a new draft law that would allow Member States to restrict or prohibit the sale and use of EU-approved GMO food or feed on its territory. The background of this decision is that once a GMO product has been approved by the EU, then it should be freely accessible and freely marketable across the EU. If Member States would get to decide on additional restrictions in trade in their own countries, this would not only hinder cross-border trade in the EU in these products, but also complicate and, in practice, reinstate border controls. Interestingly, the European Commission may not withdraw the proposal but instead direct it to the EU ministers' review next (Parliament rejects national GMO bans proposal).

More GMO products for EU consumers?

This morning the European Parliament debates a possibility to grant more flexibility and authority to the Member States with respect to regulating GMOs on their own territory. So far the EU laws were quite strict as to the risk assessment that needed to be conducted by the European Food Safety Authority prior to allowing the GMOs on the territory of the EU. Currently only one GMO crop is allowed in the EU, but some Member States prohibited even this crop (GMO cultivation in the EU).