Appeal Committee 2020-12-03

Approval of genetically modified crops - risk management - comitology

Appeal Committee Genetically Modified Food and Feed - Meeting 2020-12-03

On Thursday, 03.12.2020, the ►Appeal Committee Genetically Modified Food and Feed and Environmental Risk discussed and voted on the Commission's proposals for the import authorisation of the following GM crops as food and feed

Maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411

MIR604 *

MON 89034 *

MON 88017 *

Soybeans: MON 87751 × MON 87701 × MON 87708 × MON 89788

* Renewal of the approval

The result of the vote is not yet known. But it is reasonable to assume that, as usual, the Member States have not taken a decision (no opinion).

The Appeal Committee is constituted by experts from the EU Member States. These experts vote on behalf of their member states, not on their knowledge or experience.. The results of the votes are not yet known and, in general, neither the voting behaviour nor the reasons for the respective decision of the individual member states are published. They are considered as secret files to protect the Member States. It will only be made public whether the Commission proposal was accepted, rejected or no decision was taken. Here, the risk management procedure is extremely non-transparent and it is precisely here that an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, better known as the "comitology procedure", is needed. (see also https://www.biotech-gm-food.com/aktuelles/komitologie-verfahren-reform-revision-verordnung-eu-182-2011 )

Adoption or rejection must always be taken by qualified majority. If such a qualified majority cannot be reached, the EU Member States do not take a decision on the proposal of the Commission. They have “no opinion”. The normal sentence is: " The chair informed the members of the Committee that, in accordance with Regulation 182/2011, it is now for the Commission to decide on this authorisation." They push back the proposal to the Commission and instruct the Commission to decide an adoption of their own proposals.

Shifting responsibility to the Commission has become established as a standard procedure. In the last 10 years, it has never been possible to reach a qualified majority for or against the Commission proposal. This will certainly be the case with today's vote. Even when the UK leaves the Appeal Committee in autumn 2019, The EU Member States quickly found a way that no qualified majority could be reached. Currently, Germany, France and Portugal are the main blockers in the comitology procedure. The weighting of the votes should be reconsidered in the reform of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

Voting havior of the EU-Member States 2017 - 2020

here: SCoPAFF

The accusation that the Commission authorises genetically modified plants without democratic legitimacy or in disregard of the democratic decision is unjustified. The Commission is merely fulfilling its legal mandate after the EU Member States have given it the mandate. The Member States did not want to take responsibility.

The GM crops discussed today will certainly not be authorised this year. However, it is possible that the plants discussed and voted on in the Appeals Committee on 12.11.2020 will still receive an import authorisation in 2020.

Comitology Procedure Gm Plants (Risik management started at 2020)