WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/99 by Gérard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Method of controlling genetic traits.
Date: 1999-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, genetically modified organism, market approval

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/21

Over the current planning period (1994-1999), the contribution of the Structural Funds represents some
EUR 4 327,5 million (at 1999 prices), divided as follows:

Region

Canaries

Martinique

Guadeloupe

Guyana

Reunion

Azores

Madeira

Portugal/REGIS

Objective 1

1 058,1

337,1

357,5

164,9

673,2

696,8

417,8

Total

3 705,4

CI

229,5

60,8

61,3

28,4

115,6

126,5

622,1

Total

1 287,6

397,9

418,8

193,3

788,8

696,8

417,8

126,5

4 327,5

Part of these programmes is, of course, intended for transport and energy infrastructures. Furthermore, in
the case of the ERDF, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2083/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC)
No 4254/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 (3) specifies in Title I,
Article 1(b) that the ERDF should contribute to the development of trans-European transport, energy and
telecommunications networks.

Finally, other financial instruments, in particular the European Investment Bank, also finance infrastructure
projects in ultra-peripheral regions.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) OJ L 161, 29.6.1996.
(3) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2000/C 303 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/99

by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Method of controlling genetic traits

Is the Commission aware that the American biotechnology group Monsanto has developed a method of
controlling genetic traits? This technique enables farmers to activate or deactivate certain genes present in
a plant for the purpose of resisting attacks by insect pests or making the plant herbicide-tolerant. However,
such activation/deactivation can only be controlled by applying to the plants a chemical which is currently
solely manufactured by the same company, the one supplying the genetically-modified seed.

The Commission:

1.

Is it aware of this technique?

2. Does it have results of analyses of the possible risks which this type of genetic manipulation may pose
to consumers of food products derived from this process? Can the GMOs be traced and detected in the
finished products?

3. Does it

intend,

food produced from
genetically-modified seed using this technique? If not, how does it envisage checking that such
products are not distributed in Europe?

to authorise the marketing in Europe of

if appropriate,

4. Generally speaking, and looking ahead to the WTO Ministerial Conference in a few weeks(cid:146) time and
the forthcoming Millennium Round, does it intend to broach with its counterparts the question of the
possibility of Europe invoking the precautionary principle in cases of scientific uncertainty in order to
prohibit the marketing in Europe of food products containing GMOs or products produced from
GMOs, without laying itself open to infringement proceedings before a WTO panel?

C 303 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2000)

1.
The Commission is aware of so called (cid:145)genetic use restriction technologies(cid:146) (GURTs). Genetically
engineered seeds that carry these technologies either produce plants with inviable seeds or they make
possible to activate or de-activate by external means (chemicals, temperature,
light) the specific genes
responsible for the value-added traits resulting from the respective genetic modifications.

One company has recently stated that they (cid:145)are not currently investing resources to develop these
technologies, but (cid:133) do not rule out their future development and use for gene protection or their
possible agronomic benefits(cid:146). It is known that all major biotech companies and several research institutions
in the United States and Europe are active in developing these technologies.

2.
It is too early to determine the possible impact of these technologies on human health and the
environment. These technologies are still in the conceptual or developmental stage and their commercia-
lisation will take some more years. In any case, future products of these technologies will have to be
assessed for their safety for human health and the environment, in accordance with Community legislation,
before they can be placed on the Community market.

Depending on the nature of the trait and/or the final product, it would be possible to trace the specific
DNA sequence for the trait and/or its expression product, i. e. a biological compound.

3.
Council Directive 98/95/EC of 14 December 1998 amending in respect of the consolidation of the
internal market, genetically modified plant varieties and plant genetic resources, Directives 66/400/EEC,
66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/457/EEC and 70/458/EEC on the marketing of beet seed,
fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed and on the
common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (1), the entire set of established seed legislation,
which has to be implemented by 1 February 2000, requires that any genetically modified varieties of
agricultural or vegetable plant species, may be approved for marketing only if (cid:145)all appropriate measures
have been taken to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment(cid:146). The risk assessment
procedure shall be equivalent to that laid down in Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the
deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (2), account being taken of the
amendments which will be made to this latter Directive under the current review process.

Furthermore, reference is made to the criteria and the assessment principles laid down in Regulation (EC)
No 258/97 of 27 January 1997 on novel foods and novel food ingredients (3).

Council Directive 98/95/EC provides also that the official national and common catalogues of plant
varieties as well as sales catalogues must clearly indicate any variety which is genetically modified. Any
labels or documents accompanying seed of genetically modified varieties of plants must clearly indicate
that the product has been genetically modified. The Commission will soon propose measures laying down
such labelling requirement also for imported seed.

4.
The Commission has supported a broad mandate for the Organization for economic cooperation and
development (OECD) in implementing the request from the group of eight most industrialized countries
(G8) to report on biotechnology and other aspects of food safety. Community policy in determining the
measures to be applied for achieving the appropriate level of protection in matters related to environ-
mental, food and feed safety, is based on current scientific knowledge together with the precautionary
principle. Presidents Prodi and Clinton have already launched an initiative for a new dialogue on
biotechnology issues, building on the discussions started in the transatlantic economic partnership.

(1) OJ L 25, 1.2.1999.
(2) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.
(3) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.