GMO cultivation: EPP Group in favour of freedom of choice for Member States

EU Parliament adopts compromise on national ban of GMO crop cultivation

The EPP Group in the European Parliament is in favour of granting EU Member States freedom of choice for GMO cultivation. "For such a controversial and sensitive question, we must leave the decision to cultivate GMOs up to the Member States", said Elisabeth Köstinger MEP, the EPP Group's negotiator of the new law and Peter Liese MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on environment and food safety ahead of today's votes on a new law on a GMO cultivation opt-out within the EU.

"This is an historic breakthrough. After three years of stalemate between Member States, we finally have a viable solution", said Köstinger. "Exaggerated demands of the Greens have been stopped. At last we know where we are heading. Member States, regions, citizens, farmers and industry are finally getting legal certainty", Liese explained.

The national bans are shaped in such a way that GMO corporations cannot challenge them legally.  Elisabeth Köstinger MEP

The compromise includes a two-stage procedure allowing Member States to individually obtain an opt-out for GMO plants. Those Member States who decide to grow GMO crops, however, have to take measures to prevent the contamination of neighbouring territories. Member States may apply the new provisions immediately.

This dossier was caracterised by many failed attempts at agreement since the beginning of negotiations in 2011. GMO advocates and GMO opponents in particular could not find common ground among Member States.

We must take the concerns of consumers into consideration and their fears seriously. Peter Liese MEP

"Our most important aim was to shape the option for a national ban in such a way that GMO corporations cannot challenge them legally", Köstinger explained. Until now, national GMO bans were only legal on a temporary basis.

"This compromise is well-balanced. We must take the concerns of consumers into consideration and their fears seriously", concluded Liese.