Changing the Environment for Transgenics in Europe

Why are their very few genetically modified (GM) crops approved for commercialization in Europe? How can their be greater public confidence in GM crops? The journal Nature answers these questions in the news article A new dawn for transgenic crops in Europe.

A major insight is that the European Union-wide system for approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not working. Getting crops approved require a ‘qualified' majority of the 27 member states, hence opposition by a few countries can block the introduction of a crop across the entire bloc. If a decision is not approved by the European Council a decision rests on the European Commission. However, despite the commission's attempt to force France, Greece, Austria and Hungary to lift bans on growing MON 810 maize, they could not get the majority vote of member states needed. More recently, countries such as Austria and Italy, said they will defy the commission and refuse to allow a crop like Amflora potatoes to be planted by farmers.

Nevertheless the EC is expected to continue to approve GMOs across the EU based on scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and then let member states decide whether to grow the crops or not. This approach could encourage more approvals and allow countries that wish to grow GMOs to do so. Other experts believe that more publicly funded research on GMOs would lead to greater public confidence in risk assessments, which are currently heavily dependent on industry studies.

The original article is available at http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100309/full/news.2010.112.html