On July 15, 2015, Members of the European Parliament ("MEPs") debated a European Commission proposal that would enable any Member State to restrict or prohibit EU-approved GMO food or feed on its territory. The Commission's proposal, published on April 22, 2015, attempts to extend to GMO food and feed the solution adopted recently in Directive (EU) 2015/412, in which Member States can restrict or prohibit the cultivation of approved GMOs in their territory. During the discussion, MEPs strongly opposed the draft law, claiming it is incompatible with single market and WTO rules. Further, MEPs raised concerns regarding implementation challenges, the lack of any impact assessment, the proposal's vagueness, and inevitable legal uncertainty. The Environment Committee will vote on the proposal in mid-October before the draft is put to a vote at the Parliament's October 2015 plenary session in Strasbourg.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
