Food Law News - EU - 2011
Council Press Release (7779/11), 17 March 2011
GM FOOD - Authorisation of three genetically modified varieties
The following is an extract from the minutes of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting
Proposals for decisions authorising the use of three genetically modified varieties in food, feed and for other uses, but excluding cultivation, have been presented to the Council for adoption. No agreement was reached either in favour of or against the authorisations.
Following the submission of initial applications for authorisation of these genetically modified varieties, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was initially consulted, as provided for by Regulation 1829/2003, and issued favourable scientific opinions. On that basis, the European Commission drew up proposals for authorising these varieties, which were presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). At its meetings on 24 September 2010 and 15 November 2010, the SCoFCAH was unable to achieve the qualified majority necessary to deliver an opinion for or against the authorisation measures proposed by the Commission. In the absence of an opinion it was up to the Council to act on the Commission proposals within a three-month period.
Today, the Council noted that there was not a qualified majority either in favour of or against the following three proposals:
- proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB614 from Bayer (6221/11)
- proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × MON 88017 from Monsanto (6150/11), and
- proposal for a decision amending decision 2006/197 as regards the renewal of the authorisation to place on the market existing feed produced from genetically modified maize line 1507 from Pioneer and Dow (6104/11).
The Council having concluded its proceedings on this issue, the Commission is now entitled to finalise the decision-making procedure in respect of all the proposals.