GMO approvals

Cynical approval of 19 GMOs by EU Commission reinforces democratic concerns

The European Commission today announced it was approving 10 new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for food or feed use and renewing 7 existing authorisations, as well as approving 2 new genetically-modified flowers (1). Criticising the decision, Green food safety spokesperson Bart Staes said: ...

Regulatory Cooperation In TTIP

What does it mean for the future of our food and democracy?

Report from the discussion with Sharon Treat on US legislators' perspectives on the ongoing TTIP negotiations on regulatory cooperation for food policies  On 14th April as we approached the  Global Action Day on TTIP, MEPs from across the political spectrum welcomed Sharon Treat[i],...

GMO approvals

EU Commission continues down slippery slope of easing way for GMOs in Europe

The European Commission today presented a proposal for a new scheme of renationalising decisions on GMOs in the EU. The proposals would introduce the possibility for EU member states to restrict trade of GMOs within their territory without touching the authorisation procedure for GMOs as such. Comme...

EP committee draws clear red lines for TTIP concerning food and health

With an overwhelming majority (59-8-2) the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) gave red light to the TTIP opinion report of Green rapporteur. Green draftsperson, MEP Bart Staes, who is very pleased with the result of the vote in ENVI: "It would have been unthinkable for the ENVI committee not to reach a majority vote on a critical report on TTIP."

TTIP and sustainable food production: water and fire?

The currently negotiated and disputed free trade agreement (TTIP) between the EU and US could have deep impacts on how we produce our food. Even if there are not many policy areas that have a more direct impact on people and the planet, this was one of the issues that were largely left out in the TTIP-debate. That is why the Greens-Efa group in the European Parliament (EP) organised (together with a broad range of organisations: ARC2020, Compassion in World Farming, Corporate Europe Observatory, Eurocoop, European Coordination Via Campesina, European Milk Board, Friends of the Earth Europe and Slowfood) a big conference and debate “TTIP talks – What’s Cooking? – Perspectives on Food and Farming” on 10 December 2014. The Greens-Efa now publish the report that summarises the presentations and discussions of this conference.

GMO (In)digest

Issue 17 of the GMO Campaign Newsletter

EU Work: New Directive on GMO will enter into force in April See (GMO (In)digest 16) Following its formal adoption at Competitiveness Council on March 2, and final signature at the EP plenary session on March 11, the Directive (EU) 2015/412 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Dir...

Pesticide Action Week

No Pesticides, No GMOs

As pesticide action week is set to begin, one may reflect on the fact that GMOs have been sold primarily as a way of reducing the use of pesticides. Shouldn't we then celebrate this way to reduce our pesticide addiction and embrace a great new agricultural technology? The first point to consider i...

Join the Food Revolution Newsletter

Issue n°10 March 2015

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Cloning for farming purposes: Greens ask the Commission to come with better proposal EU seed marketing regulation fully withdrawn: The Greens say thank you to the seed savers community. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Food Community supported programmes in the spotlig...

GMO (In)digest

Issue 16 of the GMO Campaign Newsletter

Renationalisation proposal, GMO-free regions 2015 conference, situation in Spain and Czech Republic as well as in USA, China and Mexican are the items of our newsletter n°16

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 12-15 January 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included the Charlie Hebdo attack and freedom of expression; EU GMO authorisations and the Trojan horse of the opt-out; migration; borders and more Mediterranean tragedies; Ukraine, Russia and the EU's role; the EU Commission's work plans and 'better regulation’; Turkey, freedom of expression and the EU's role; recent atrocities by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria; TTIP, trade policy and controversial investor-state settlement schemes; EU investment plan; tax evasion - EU Parliament inquiry committee gains cross-political support.

GMO authorisation

New EU scheme eases way for GMOs without addressing flawed authorisation process

The European Parliament today voted to endorse an agreement on a new scheme for the authorisation of genetically-modified organisms in the EU. The Greens voted against the new scheme, as it would renationalise decisions about GMO cultivation instead of reforming the risk assessment process for GMOs,...

GM vote 'a toxic guddle only the lawyers will win from'

Press Release from SNP MEPs Smith and Hudghton

The SNP team in the European Parliament Alyn Smith MEP and Ian Hudghton MEP, have slammed the passage of new EU legislation on the cultivation of GM crops as a "Trojan horse riddled with loopholes" which potentially opens the door to much greater use of GM crops and circulation of GM produ...