Brussels, Belgium
December 15 & 16, 2011

Source: Council of the European Union

PROVISIONAL VERSION

Proposals for decisions authorising the use of four genetically modified varieties in food, feed and for other uses, but excluding cultivation, were presented to the Council for adoption. No agreement was reached either in favour of or against the authorisations.

Following the submission of initial applications for authorisation of these genetically modified varieties, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had initially been consulted, as provided for
by Regulation 1829/2003, and had issued favourable scientific opinions. On that basis, the European Commission drew up proposals for authorising these varieties, which were presented to
the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). At its meeting on 9 February 2011, the SCoFCAH had been unable to achieve the qualified majority necessary to
deliver an opinion for or against the authorisation measures proposed by the Commission. In the absence of an opinion it was up to the Council to act on the Commission proposals within a threemonth period.

Today, the Council noted that there was not a qualified majority either in favour of or against the following four proposals:

• proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton 281-24-236x3006-210-23 from Dow (15517/11)
• proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize Bt11xMIR604xGA21 from Syngenta (15518/11),
• proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize Bt11xMIR604 from Syngenta (15520/11), and
• proposal for a decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MIR604xGA21 from Syngenta (15521/11)

Now the Council has concluded its proceedings on this issue, the Commission is entitled to finalise the decision-making procedure in respect of all the proposals.

Website: http://europa.eu

Published: December 16, 2011