The EFSA review includes guidelines for risk assessments of long-term environmental effects of growing GM crops and the potential effects on non-target organisms Photo: Dominic Patmore

EU Environment Ministers have called for faster action to improve the environmental evaluation of genetically modified crops. They want early completion of a project already under way to update risk assessment guidelines, with greater contribution from member states. However, moves by the French government to introduce socio-economic criteria into the GM crop registration process and to give member states greater freedom to establish GMO-free areas have not been supported by the other Ministers.

The Ministers adopted their conclusions on GMOs at their meeting in December. The paper is a culmination of discussions initiated earlier this year by the French presidency of the EU, which wants to see tougher procedures under the EU GMO registration Directive (2001/18 – Agrow No 555, p 12). Separately, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had already initiated a review in early 2008 to update its guidelines on environmental risk assessments of GMOs, at the request of the European Commission (Agrow No 537, p 10). The Ministers welcome the EFSA review, but call for it to be completed before its scheduled deadline of March 2010. In addition, they urge member states to fully participate in the EFSA's consultation and to contribute their views in time to ensure a speedy conclusion.

The EFSA review includes guidelines for risk assessments of long-term environmental effects of growing GM crops and the potential effects on non-target organisms. The Ministers stress that particular attention must be paid to insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops. They highlight the need to study the potential consequences for the environment of changes in the use of herbicides. They also underline the need to ensure coherence between risk assessments of input-trait GM crops and assessments of the corresponding active ingredients covered by the EU agrochemical registration Directive (91/414). The use of the related agrochemical product is authorised at national level and it is important for national authorities involved with implementing Directives 2001/18 and 91/414 to co-ordinate their action as far as possible, the Ministers stress.

The EFSA's aim should be to improve harmonisation between member states' assessment of GM crops, while still taking account of local conditions, Ministers say. The EU evaluation process should take greater account of member states' views. Nevertheless, the Ministers stress that the guidelines must respect the scientific risk assessment criteria already operating in Directive 2001/18. They also emphasise that member states must submit any information during risk assessments according to EFSA procedures and without prolonging the approval process.

The Ministers also call for more post-approval monitoring activities by member states. They acknowledge that the regular monitoring required from approval holders is essential and welcome the Commission's preparation of a standard monitoring report form to harmonise information collection. However, they urge member states to consider developing and conducting their own monitoring activities. Findings should be forwarded to the Commission as soon as possible and the EU and national authorities should ensure appropriate follow up of information, Ministers stress.

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Elsewhere, the Ministers' conclusions do not incorporate the French presidency suggestion to incorporate socio-economic criteria into GM crop assessments. Instead, the Ministers invite member states to submit information to the Commission by January 2010 on socio-economic implications of GM crop cultivation, including benefits, risks and agronomic sustainability. They call on the Commission to produce a report by June 2010. The Ministers point out that existing EU legislation allows for legitimate factors specific to GMOs to be taken into account on a case-by-case basis. They also note that existing legislation requires the Commission to produce a report on the implementation of Directive 2001/18, including an assessment of socio-economic implications of GM crop cultivation.

Similarly, a French bid to give member states widespread freedom to adopt GMO-free zones was not adopted by Ministers. The conclusions merely acknowledge the need to take full account of specific local conditions on a case-by-case basis and point out that provisions for protecting sensitive areas are already available under the existing legislation. The Ministers note that the Commission is to issue a report in 2009 on member states' experience with their implementation of national co-existence strategies.

The Ministers add their call to many others urging the Commission to adopt EU thresholds for the presence of approved GM material in conventional seed "as soon as possible". While thresholds and labelling rules have been in place for food and feed for several years, discussions on seed have repeatedly failed to reach agreement on suitable values (Agrow 534, p 10). The Ministers welcome the Commission's forthcoming impact study on the establishment of seed thresholds "with interest". Thresholds must be established on the basis of relevant criteria, such as species-specific criteria and scientific information, they stress. They must be set "at the lowest practicable, proportionate and functional levels for all economic operators, [and] must contribute to ensuring freedom of choice to producers and consumers of conventional, organic and GM products alike", they add.

The Ministers' conclusions are welcomed by French Minister of State Jean-Louis Borloo and Secretary of State Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. The paper reinforces the Ministers’ aim that member states' opinions are taken into account, they say.

The European biotechnology industry association, EuropaBio, welcomes the Ministers' acknowledgement of the need to process GM crop applications without undue delays and to respect the EU's obligations to international trade rules. Nevertheless, it cautions against further delays to EU approvals, noting that there have not been any new GM crops cleared for cultivation in the EU for ten years. "The EU has talked, created legislation, re-drafted legislation and delayed approvals on biotech for years. It is now time for action and we anticipate implementation of existing legislation to allow for the approvals of biotech crops for cultivation without further and unnecessary delay," says EuropaBio secretary general Willy De Greef.

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