McGuinness backs GM feed in Strasbourg vote

A Fine Gael MEP for this region has welcomed the Parliament's rejection of a Commission proposal to allow Member States to ban the use of EU approved GMO feed and food, during a vote in Strasbourg this week.

Mairead McGuinness MEP said that the move recognised the economic realities of the European livestock sector, which is dependent on cheap feed.
So far, 58 GMOs have been authorised for consumption in food and feed in the EU. They include maize, cotton, soybean, oilseed rape and sugar beet and another 58 are waiting for approval.
Replacing GMO soya with non-GM, which is not widely available, would inevitably translate to an increase of costs for the EU livestock industry, which would be difficult to transfer to the consumer.

Detriment

'The decision makes sense and I very much welcome it as an acknowledgement that the EU livestock sector requires the importation of protein, mainly GM soya. Had this proposal been approved it could have led to member states banning GM protein to the detriment of livestock farmers.
'Such a ban would also have the potential to break up the single market and result in distortion of competition between member states,' said McGuinness, Vice-President of the European Parliament.
However, member states are able to ban the growing of GM crops. In Europe, only one GM crop is grown, mainly in Spain and Portugal; the authorisation of GM maize MON 810 is currently expired and is awaiting renewal.

Sparked debate
The Commission's latest GM proposal, claims Ms McGuinness, arises from a deep frustration at the unwillingness of member states to shoulder their responsibility in the approval process for GM feed.
'The proposal, which I voted against, has at least sparked a debate about GM technology, its place in society and in the food chain. Clearly, citizens embrace GM technology in the medical/pharmaceutical sector, but are reluctant when it comes to food and feed.'
'The practical implications of the proposal were not thought through as it could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between member states that might have imposed such a ban and those that would not,' McGuinness added.
'We believe that this issue should be dealt with at EU level.
'The Commission proposal conflicts with the principles of 'better regulation' and transparency and was not backed up with an impact assessment,' she said.