OREANDA-NEWS. The European Parliament opposed the European Commission plans to authorise five GMO products, maize Bt11, 1507 and MON810 (seeds and products), and a glyphosate-resistant cotton, in a vote on Thursday. MEPs reiterated their call for a reform of the EU’s GMO authorisation procedure.

The five non-binding resolutions were tabled by objectors Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, BE), Sirpa Pietik?inen (EPP, FI), Guilliaume Balas (S&D, FR), Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL, IE) and Eleonora Evi (EFDD, IT).

Butterflies and moths

MEPs worry that maize Bt11 and maize 1507 could harm “non-target” species of butterflies and moths. They question the concept, introduced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of an "acceptable local mortality" of non-target lepidopteran species.

Bt toxin

The EFSA assessment of maize MON 810 seeds lacks data, say MEPs, who point out that possible cross-contamination by an invasive plant carrying Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, used as a pesticide, poses “major risks for farmers and the environment”.