EU Member States continue to have different ideas about possible changes in
the authorisation process for genetically modified plants in Europe.
At their session in Luxemburg last week, the EU environment ministers were
unable to come to an agreement on joint proposals.

France, which holds the Presidency of the EU Council to the end of 2008, set
up a working group this summer to work on proposals for changes to the
current authorisation process for GMOs. A decision is to be made in December
at the Council?s session, but political discussions within the Council of
environment ministers shows once again that the Member States are far from
reaching a compromise.

Some Member States want to allow for the possibility of prohibiting the
planting of GM crops in certain ecologically sensitive or protected areas.
Others want that such restrictions be applied only if there is a
scientifically-based protective measure.

Even France?s proposal that GMO authorisation be decided not only on
scientific safety evaluations, but also on socio-economic factors, did not
get wide-spread approval. While it is considered important when authorising
GMOs to assess possible consequences to agricultural systems already in
place, there are currently no clear, practical definitions within the
framework of the authorisation process. Some Member States stressed that
such socio-economic factors not be allowed to override scientific safety
evaluations. It also has to be kept in mind that the authorisation process
should not violate World Trade Organization (WTO) contracts, which the EU is
obliged to uphold.

According to the French Presidency, the Member States unanimously agree to
improve the process for assessing long-term effects of GM crops on the
environment. Some countries are calling for the revision of safety
evaluation guidelines used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Changes to the GM plant authorisation process are supposed to be finally
decided at the Council?s session in December.
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