Amen­de­menten Hazekamp over planten verkregen met bepaalde nieuwe geno­mi­ca­tech­nieken en de levens­mid­delen en dier­voeders daarvan, en tot wijziging van Veror­dening (EU) 2017/625

Proposal for a regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed (COM(2023)0411 – C9-0238/2023 – 2023/0226(COD)) of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

Amendement 85
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 (new)

Amendment

(-1) Life should under no circumstances be patented, either in the form of reproductive techniques or by privatising genome sequences, because knowledge is of benefit to all.

Amendement 86
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 a (new)

Amendment

(-1a) Ethical questions relating to the use and practice of science in the field of genetic engineering are a fundamental issue. First and foremost, the short-, medium- and long-term consequences of using such technologies must be examined. It will be undeniably important to gain further knowledge about the impact on the environment, climate, farming, biodiversity and food security. It will also be important to build bridges between science and the advances it produces and the development of agriculture and production in general avoiding sacrificing the future and ensuring that such choices follow the precautionary principle.

Amendment 87
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

Amendment

(1a) Trade in genetically modified organism varieties cannot directly or indirectly rely solely on monopolistic private multinational companies, which benefit the most from the mass use of those patented varieties, a situation that leaves farmers more dependent on seed producers and, therefore, reduces the Member States’ food and production sovereignty.

Amendment 88
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)

Amendment

(1b) Since knowledge about the properties of each gene is incomplete and the number of variables is considerable, the impact of using such genetic techniques and their subsequent large-scale roll-out is not yet fully understood. Natural or organic crops, i.e. crops that have not been genetically modified by humans, existing alongside genetically modified crops poses the issue of gene flow, since pollination is often anemophilous, by way of the wind.

Amendment 89
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 c (new)

Amendment

(1c) The use of genetically modified organisms has led to an excessive use of pesticides and persistent fertilisers, which can lead to reduced soil fertility, aridity and low water holding capacity. Defending the genetic integrity of natural crops is therefore fundamental, given that the impact of large-scale agriculture on soil properties affects the hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and climate and, over time, contributes to desertification, which poses a threat to long-term food security. The precautionary principle should therefore be followed, with the introduction of new NGT varieties.

Amendment 90
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 d (new)

Amendment

(1d) The impact that consumption of GMOs and NGTs may have on animal feed and human food has not been sufficiently weighed up, particularly in the long term. There are no studies in the European Union that assess with any certainty the true impact of introducing such plant varieties on farming and food.

Amendment 91
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)

Amendment

(2a) The introduction of plant varieties into the environment and/or into foodstuffs or feed for animals that may be different in their intended or unintended genotypes and phenotypes from those obtained by conventional breeding processes poses challenges to the regulatory authority, which must ensure safety for health and the environment. Such differences may not always be obvious or predictable, and suitable data is therefore needed before conclusions about their safety can be drawn.

Amendment 92
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)

Amendment

(3a) Given that sustainability comprises many degrees of complexity, clear and transparent criteria are needed for a suitable technological assessment before conclusions can be drawn on the potential benefits of NGTs’ specific characteristics.

Amendment 93
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)

Amendment

(7a) The underlying causes of hunger are rarely related to low crop harvests themselves, but rather poverty, unequal access to food and unequal access to land and the means of food production, a lack of support for family farmers, low incomes and speculation in the cost of food placed on the market.

Amendment 94
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 - paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment

Wild plants, trees and algae fall outside the scope of this Regulation.

Amendment 95
João Pimenta Lopes, Sandra Pereira, Anja Hazekamp, Manu Pineda

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 - paragraph 3 - point b

Text proposed by the Commission

(b) where appropriate, a monitoring plan for environmental effects in accordance with Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC, including a proposal for the duration of the monitoring plan. This duration may be different from the duration of the authorisation. If, based on the results of any release notified in accordance with Section 1, the findings of the environmental risk assessment, the characteristics of the NGT plant, the characteristics and scale of its expected use and the characteristics of the receiving environment, in accordance with the implementing act adopted in accordance with Article 27, point (d), the applicant considers that the NGT plant does need a monitoring plan, the applicant may propose not to submit a monitoring plan.

Amendment

(b) a monitoring plan for environmental effects in accordance with Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC, including a proposal for the duration of the monitoring plan.

Amendment 96
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

Amendment

(1a) So-called New Genomic Techniques are in fact GMOs, as they are indeed organisms that are nonetheless genetically modified.

Amendment 97
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)

Amendment

(2a) Resilience and adaptation in agricultural ecosystems are to be found through the application of agro-ecological practices, restoring these ecosystems, improving soil health, supporting farmers and supporting the rural economy. While the use of genetically modified crops, including NGTs, may give the impression of resilience and adaptation, it actually undercuts the very basis of its resilience, by ignoring how ecosystems work and locking farmers into intensive agricultural practices.

Amendment 98
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)

Amendment

(3a) The Farm to Fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system was a signal to our farming communities for a just transition towards an ecological and safe food system, away from the toxic-dependent, polluting and intensive system which predominates across the Union. The Commission has still not adopted the promised proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems, while it has sped ahead with a legislative proposal which deregulates GMOs. This is an unfair political move for our farming communities and sends the wrong signal to the farmers who are already investing in more sustainable practices.

Amendment 99
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)

Amendment

(3b) This proposal risks further domination of multinational seed companies over farmers’ access to seeds, by patenting breeding techniques and their outputs. Big corporations already hold a monopoly of seeds and are gaining more control over natural resources to the exclusion of farmers. This clearly disempowers farmers, makes them dependent on private companies, and compromises biodiversity.

Amendment 100
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)

Amendment

(4a) Union policy in the area of the environment is legally obliged to be based on the precautionary principle, as enshrined in Article 191 of the TEU. The same article obliges Union policy in this area to aim for a high level of protection. This proposal disrespects the precautionary principle by sanctioning the use of so-called NGTs when their risks are unknown and could be catastrophic, and clearly aims for a lower level of protection for consumers and the environment, by deregulating GMOs and indeed removing traceability and labelling requirements, which are so important to consumers.

Amendment 101
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)

Amendment

(4b) There are clearly concerns regarding claim verification and quality controls over new breeds, for example regarding who will verify the claims that seed companies are making about their NGT seeds, such as drought-resistance, and how the scientific rigour of those claims could possibly be measured. This proposal paves the way for false and misleading claims that will facilitate the selling of false silver bullet solutions.

Amendment 102
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)

Amendment

(6a) This proposal is underpinned by a false logic that GMOs are the solution to the problems faced by farmers, including the effects of climate change. The monoculture of these genetically undiverse seeds is something that would in fact aggravate the problems faced by farmers, and reduce the resilience of agricultural ecosystems. The EU and the Member States should be investing more in good agro-environmental practices (crop rotation, mixing varieties, polyculture, organic farming) to increase resilience, as genetic diversity is the real underpinning of resilience.

Amendment 103
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)

Amendment

(7a) Farmers, particularly small and medium-sized farmers, across Europe have mobilised against this legislative proposal, expressing high concern about the spread of patented and untraced GMOs in the EU. These concerns have to date been totally ignored.

Amendment 104
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)

Amendment

(15a) The French Health and Food Safety Agency (ANSES) published an opinion stating that the criteria for defining GMOs to be excluded from all assessment, labelling and traceability (NGT 1) are not based on any scientific justification and that the lack of clarity will make it impossible to verify this categorisation. Moreover, it is highly concerning that no European agency has been asked to give an official opinion on the scientific relevance of the Commission’s proposal. This proposal is not underpinned by scientific assessment.

Amendment 105
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 b (new)

Amendment

(15b) A long-established network of GMO cities and regions exists in the EU, due to the controversies around GMO cultivation. Changes in the traceability and labelling seriously undermine the autonomy of these regions that have declared themselves GMO-free. This proposal does not respect the right of regions to remain GMO-free.

Amendment 106
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 c (new)

Amendment

(15c) It is a basic consumer right to know what you are buying and consuming. Being able to distinguish what is a GMO and what is not is essential for consumers who wish to avoid GMOs.

Amendment 107
Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Anja Hazekamp

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 - paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

This Regulation lays down specific rules for the deliberate release into the environment for any other purpose than placing on the market of plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques (‘NGT plants’) and for the placing on the market of food and feed containing, consisting of or produced from such plants, and of products, other than food or feed, containing or consisting of such plants.

Amendment

This Regulation lays down specific rules to prohibit the deliberate release of plants obtained by new genomic techniques (‘NGT plants’).