B4-1242, 1246, 1247 and 1252/96

Resolution on biosafety and food security

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15.)),

- having regard to the marketing authorizations, including their various restrictions on the use of certain products, which have been issued under this Directive for GMO food and crop products (e.g. soyabeans, rapeseed, chicory),

- having regard to its decision of 12 March 1996 ((OJ C 96, 1.4.1996, p. 26.)) on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Regulation on novel foods and novel food ingredients (C4- 0490/95 - 00/0426(COD)),

A. whereas consumer confidence has already suffered this year due to the BSE crisis and will continue to suffer if consumers are denied their right of information on genetically modified food contents,

B. whereas there is increasing concern among consumers as regards genetically modified products,

C. whereas proper regulations which are intended to cover the labelling of products containing genetically modified organisms are still to be decided and implemented in the European Union,

D. whereas there is as yet no biosafety protocol regulating the international trade in GMOs,

E. whereas soya products are a component of more than 20,000 kinds of foodstuffs; whereas, therefore, releasing genetically modified soya would have an overwhelming influence on the European food market,

F. whereas certain foodstuffs containing genetically modified soya are suspected of triggering allergic reactions,

G. whereas a large number of European food industry operators in various countries have announced that they will not use genetically modified soya due to a lack of labelling measures,

1. Insists on the need for transparency; insists also that consumers have a right to be informed about the use of genetically modified organisms in their food;

2. Calls on US soya producers and all other producers of genetically modified organisms used in foodstuffs to segregate those organisms from conventional ones;

3. Calls on the Commission and the relevant legislative bodies of the EU and the Member States to take measures to ensure such a segregation of genetically modified organisms on the European market;

4. Calls on the Commission to take all necessary measures to ensure that consumers will have the information they need to exercise their right to choose what they eat; deplores the fact that the Commission did not await the adoption of the Regulation on novel foods concerning, notably, the crucial issue of labelling;

5. Calls for the setting up of an observation and monitoring network responsible for monitoring plants placed on the market and allowing the Commission to review the situation regularly in the light of the findings obtained;

6. Calls on the Commission to report to the European Parliament on the methods and controls applied by the competent national authorities to guarantee compliance whith the conditions of product approval, and to publish detailed guidance on these matters;

7. Requests, as a consequence, while not disputing certain positive aspects of the discoveries in genetic engineering, that authorization for genetically modified products should be granted according to extremely strict scientific criteria, brought to the attention of the consumer who, in this manner, will be reassured as to the harmlessness of the product;

8. Calls therefore on the Council to accept Parliament's advice to include in the novel food Regulation a labelling requirement for all food containing genetically modified material when detectable;

9. Calls for the implementation of long-term studies to determine the impact on human health and the environment of the use of glyphosate-tolerant plants and the consequent increased use of this herbicide;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Comission, the Council and the governments of the Member States and the USA.