WRITTEN QUESTION P-2281/98

by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Subject: Pesticide residues in GM plants

On 3 April 1996 the European Union authorized the placing on the market of glyphosate resistant transgenic soya and on 23 January 1997 a similar authorization was granted to glufosinate-ammonium resistant transgenic maize. Unlike the situation in the past, glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium are now used post-emergence for GM soya crops and GM maize crops respectively. Soya beans and maize kernels from these transgenic crops could therefore contain residues of "their" herbicide or its metabolites. Certain information indicates that discussion is also taking place at present within the "Codex alimentarius" which is seeking to increase the level of limit values for herbicide residues (including glyphosate) in foodstuffs.

1. Can the Commission confirm this information on the discussions within the "Codex alimentarius"? If so, what position has been adopted by the European Union?

2. Can the Commission:

(a) What quantities of glyphosate residues have been found in transgenic soya beans which are resistant to this herbicide? What metabolites of glyphosate have been detected, in what quantities and what is their toxicity? What quantities of glyphosate residues and its metabolites are found generally in non-GM soya?

(b) What quantities of glufosinate residues have been found in transgenic maize kernels which are resistant to this herbicide? What metabolites of glufosinate have been detected, in what quantities and what is their toxicity? What quantities of glufosinate residues and its metabolites are found generally in non-GM maize?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1998)

1. The Commission is aware that the 1997 joint meeting on pesticide residues (JMPR) examined the toxicology of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). The JMPR's report has not yet been considered by the Codex committee on pesticide residues (CCPR) but Codex levels for AMPA on maize, maize fodder and maize forage recommended in the report will be discussed at the 31th CCPR in 1999.

The Community's position on residue levels is that they should be fixed at levels reflecting the authorised uses of minimum quantities of plant protection products necessary to achieve adequate protection of the plants concerned, applied in such a manner that the amount of residue is the smallest practicable, particularly in view of the protection of the environment and in terms of estimated dietary intake. This is the basis upon which Community maximum residue levels (MRLs) are fixed and the policy underpinning the Community's position in discussing recommended levels in Codex Alimentarius. However, the Community insists that full and adequate information concerning authorised uses and data from supervised field trials is submitted for examination for the fixing both of MRLs and of recommended Codex levels. The Community is also prepared to examine the fixing of MRLs as import tolerances on the basis of submission of acceptable data.

2. (a) The Commission is, at this stage, not suggesting a change in the existing MRL of 20 milligrams per kilogram for glyphosate on soya beans which was fixed on the basis of data concerning authorised uses on non-genetically modified crops in third countries and is the same as the Codex. On the basis of examination of available data, it is not to be anticipated that an MRL for glyphosate greater than 20 milligrams per kilogram would be required on genetically modified soya beans.

AMPA is the main metabolite of glyphosate. It is estimated that in genetically modified soya beans it may occur as a residue at 50 % of the glyphosate residue, whereas in non-genetically modified soya beans its presence is not significant. The 1997 JMPR concluded that AMPA showed little toxicity and had a similar toxicological profile to glyphosate. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) at 0-0,3 milligrams per kilogram was set for the sum of glyphosate and AMPA.

Data available to the Commission suggest that in general the level of glyphosate residues in conventional soya beans would not exceed 7 milligrams per kilogram.

2. (b) The Commission is not aware that glufosinate has been debated in the same context as glyphosate and AMPA. A Codex level of 0,1 milligrams per kilogram for glufosinate-ammonium on maize was fixed in 1997 and an ADI of 0,02 milligrams per kilogram in 1991. No harmonised Community MRLs are yet fixed for glufosinate. In this situation, Member States can establish at national level MRLs for this active substance, taking into account the residues resulting from the new authorised uses of glufosinate containing plant protection products on genetically modified maize.