Off the wire
• China creates more development zones to foster innovation  • S. African gov't to discuss terror alert with U.S.: presidency  • Portuguese president vetoes surrogacy bill  • Bulgarian president pleads for his country's adhesion to Schengen Zone  • Former Nigerian football coach Keshi dies at 54  • China-Myanmar Paukphaw friendship foundation set up in Yangon  • LME base metals increase on Wednesday  • China mulls regulating facilities for mentally ill offenders  • Zambia says no license for fourth mobile phone operator  • Militant group says it destroys Chevron oil well in Nigeria  
You are here: 　 Home

GMOs continue to divide EU institutions

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Commission should withdraw its authorizations for the import and sale of GMO (genetically modified organism) carnations and certain varieties of maize in the European Union (EU), the European Parliament said in two draft resolutions adopted on Wednesday.

The GMO issue, particularly sensitive within public opinion on the European continent, has troubled EU institutions that have not been able to arrive at a consensus on the terms and restrictions to be posed on their usage.

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) were at first opposed, by 430 voices against 188 in favor and 33 abstentions, to a European Commission implementing decision in which it proposed to authorize the import and sales of GMO cut decorative carnations resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide, thanks to genetic engineering. Sulfonylureas, used in drugs for managing type 2 diabetes, are also used as herbicides since they are very toxic to plants at very low doses.

"Creating a market for sulfonylurea resistant plants will encourage the worldwide use of this medicine against diabetes as a herbicide," affirmed the European Parliament in their resolution. This would be at the risk of "worldwide detrimental effects on biodiversity and chemical contamination of drinking water," it added.

MEPs also highlighted that no studies had yet been done on the possible consequences of intentional human consumption of genetically modified carnations. They note, however, that the European Food Safety Authority GMO Panel is aware of the tradition in certain populations to use carnation petals as garnish that are intentionally eaten (especially in soups, butters and fruit salads).

The European Parliament also rejected another proposition from the European Commission on the authorization of the import and sale in the EU of products containing genetically modified maize.

Last October, MEPs had rejected European legislation permitting every EU member state to restrict or prohibit on its territory the sale and use of foodstuffs or animal feeds from GMOs approved by the EU, and called for the European Commission to come up with a new proposal. Endit