WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Information concerning the revision of Directive 90/220/EEC on genetically modified organisms

On Thursday, 13 July 2000, the Commission issued press release IP/00/778 which announced broader access for genetically modified organisms (foodstuffs, seeds and pharmaceutical products) to the European market.

1. Since the revision of Directive 90/220/EEC(1) is currently the subject of negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, can the Commission indicate what authority it possesses to anticipate the definitive adoption of the revised Directive, as is set out in the press report referred to above?

2. Can the Commission explain why it decided to release the press report immediately after the last meeting of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy before the summer recess?

3. Does the Commission agree with me that the suspicion of a hi-jack is justified, since its aim appears to be to try to avoid the possibility of a direct negative response from the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy?

4. Would the Commission agree with me that it would be better for the democratic process if the Commission issued such announcements initially to selected MEPs instead of to journalists?

5. Given that public opinion in the Member States is increasingly afraid that non-genetically-engineered plants will be ousted and/or altered, with implications for public health which are incalculable, what is the Commission's opinion of the room for manoeuvre which the governments of the Member States of the European Union will have available to take account of that opinion, once the Commission plan has been implemented?

6. To what extent is the Commission's plan influenced by pressure from the United States of America (comparable with what happened with respect to hormone-treated meat and hushkits) and by fears of a trade boycott?

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Deliberate release and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is covered by Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 that is currently under revision. Due to several factors no authorisations have been granted for a certain time for the commercial release of GMOs. The different options to overcome this situation were discussed at a meeting in the Commission on 12 July 2000. The Commission, following its meeting, presented a strategy for an interim approach to restore confidence in GMO approval process. This approach includes a proposal to apply the key provisions of the revised directive on the release of GMOs in the environment to all new GMO approvals after agreement on its content has been reached.

1. The approach of the Commission revolves around the application of a revised Directive 90/220/EEC prior to transposition into national law. This firstly requires that the Parliament and Council can agree on a final text during conciliation and adopt a revised directive. If this is the case, then Member States will have a further 18 months to transpose the revised directive into national law. It is only after this interim period that the Directive would enter fully into force. The approach of the Commission aims to address this interim period. This approach builds on the initiative taken by some companies which had already indicated to the Commission their willingness to include, as part of their applications, voluntary commitments that go beyond the existing requirements under Directive 90/220/EEC.

2. to 4. The orientations agreed by the Commission at its meeting on 12 July 2000, were transmitted to the Parliament, through the Committee on the environment, public health and consumer policy, immediately following the Commission meeting, as is normal practice. Those orientations were transmitted to the press in press release IP/00/78. Further information to Parliament was the subject of numerous phone conversations and regular contacts with the Environment committee and the Secretariat which resulted in both Commissioners responsible for the environment and for consumer protection attending a special meeting of the Environment committee on 24 October, to present the GMO strategy.

5. The objective of the Commission's initiative of 12 July 2000 is to re-launch the authorisation procedure for GMOs on the basis of voluntary commitments by the notifiers to apply the new requirements of the revised directive. These provisions should ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment and, in any case, the authorisation procedure is based upon a comprehensive assessment of risks to human health and the environment and where necessary the opinion of the scientific committees is sought to validate the scientific basis. This initiative from the Commission should make it possible for Member States to act on a different and stronger basis in the regulatory committee, as well as in the Council, while restoring the confidence of consumers and trading partners.

6. There is a need to re-establish confidence in the approval system and to allow consumers to choose for themselves whether they want products containing GMOs or not. Against this background, a framework for the authorisation and control of GMOs that is reliable and safe for consumers and the environment will be provided in the revised Directive 90/220/EEC. The Commission is ready to take the political leadership and has now proposed to apply together with the Member States the provisions of this new framework before their final transposition into national legislation and thus to take forward the debate on GMOs in the Community.

This initiative proposed by the Commission is not influenced by any single interest group or party, but is a first step towards a more constructive and responsible strategy on GMOs. A strategy that implies dialogue with all interested parties consumers, agriculture, industry, non-governmental organisations, science, governments, European institutions and trading partners is maintained. The objective of this initiative is to resume the authorisation process for GMOs whilst addressing public concerns on GMOs as well as problems of legal uncertainty for those concerned. In this way the Commission wants to give a clear response to political and legal concerns over GMOs that favours consumer choice and legal certainty.