WRITTEN QUESTION E-4222/97 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (21 January 1998)

Subject: Imports of genetically modified organisms from the USA and Canada

1. What is the Commission's assessment of the risk of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in particular maize, rape and soya, possibly mixed with conventional organisms, being exported to Europe, particularly from the USA and Canada, without the requisite consent to place such organisms on the market in the countries of the European Union pursuant to Part C of Directive 90/220/EEC ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15. ))?

2. How many applications for consent are currently before the Commission?

3. What action will the Commission take to ensure that a decision is taken on all such applications by the time this year's harvest arrives in Europe?

4. What is the volume of supplies of the abovementioned organisms from the USA and Canada?

5. What is the Commission's assessment of the risk of commercial conflict with our North American trading partners if the products cannot be placed on the market in the European Union because consent for the GMOs has been withheld?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (27 March 1998)

1. Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMO) provides, in Article 4, that the responsibility for inspection and control measures lies with the competent authorities appointed by the Member States. On 16 December 1997, the Commission wrote to the Member States regarding imports of bulk commodities (maize and oilseed rape) from the United States and Canada, where certain genetically modified crops not yet authorized in the Community have been harvested. On that occasion the Commission reminded Member States of their obligation to organize inspection and other control measures in accordance with the Directive.

Following the 22nd committee meeting of the competent authorities for Directive 90/220/EEC held on 3 December 1997, the Commission has initiated work aimed at harmonization of control and inspection measures in the framework of this Directive. To this end, an ad hoc technical working group held its first meeting on 16 December 1997 in order to discuss the availability and applicability of specific technical methods for the detection of potentially unauthorized GMOs.

2. Thirteen products are awaiting approval under the product approval procedure of Directive 90/220/EEC.

3. In line with the principles of the Commission proposal to amend Directive 90/220/EEC ((COM(98) 85 final. )), the Commission has decided that all product notifications, to which Member States have objected under Directive 90/220/EEC, should be submitted to the relevant scientific committees before consultation of the regulatory committee under this Directive. The scientific committee on plants has now (10 February 1998) given a favourable opinion concerning three applications for genetically modified maize and one for a genetically modified oilseed rape. The consultation of the regulatory committee on the draft decisions concerning these products will take place mid March 1998.

4. The 1996 imports of maize, oilseed rape and soya beans from the United States and Canada are presented in volume as well as their respective value in the table below.

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5. In order for GMOs to be imported to the Community, the relevant Community legislation has to be respected so that the public is assured of the safety of these products for human health and the environment. The Commission is taking all the necessary measures to ensure that a thorough scientific assessment of the safety of pending products is carried out in as short a timescale as possible.