Press
Pro GMO vote: MEPs should not be deterred
Environment Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament, European Union 2024, Source: EP
CSU lets down Bavarian businesses
"It is disappointing that the Environment Committee, of all bodies, is speaking out against transparency and freedom of choice in genetic engineering. What is particularly disappointing, however, is that the Bavarian CSU MEPs voted against labelling, risk assessment and coexistence regulations - while their party in Bavaria continues to present itself as a forerunner of absence of GMO that does not allow itself to be ordered to do anything by Brussels. The fact that CSU Deputy Chairman and EPP Group Chairman in the EP Manfred Weber has so far refused to talk to the Industry Initiative for Freedom of Choice when it comes to genetic engineering in food is an evidence of incapacity. The CSU is leaving Bavarian businesses in the lurch," commented Alexander Hissting, Managing Director of the German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG).
Özdemir might convince other EU Member States of the importance of freedom of choice and 'Ohne Gentechnik'
"All other MEPs should not be swayed by this vote and form their own opinion on the vote in February. The majority in the Environment Committee was not overwhelming. It is by no means all evening yet. Resistance to the abolition of GMO labelling and coexistence measures remains stable among the Member States. This is particularly true for Germany, as German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has once again confirmed during the International Green Week trade show in Berlin. Özdemir's commitment to freedom of choice and the 'Ohne Gentechnik' (Non-GMO) and organic industry might also convince other EU Member States to support his course."
Vote in the European Parliament in early February 2024
The actual vote on the new GMO regulation in the EP is expected to take place at the beginning of February 2024. The MEPs are not bound by the committee vote. Even if there were also a majority against transparent genetic engineering regulations there, the decision would still be a long way off. So far, there is no majority in favour of GMO deregulation among the EU Member States, as was shown in a vote in the Agriculture Council in December 2023. This is unlikely to change for the time being.
Over 200 businesses demand freedom of choice for GMO in food
LebensmittelZeitung: ENVI votes in favour of diluting restrictions on genetic engineering (in German)
agrarheute: Majority votes in favour of EU genetic engineering amendment: Organic farming is left out (in German)
Informationsdienst Gentechnik: New genetic engineering: ENVI rejects transparency and freedom of choice (in German)