HU Presidency R Andorko ALDE ADLE Seminar 31 03 2011

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ALDE seminar - Justifying restrictions on the cultivation of GMO crops?Arguments for and against

31.03.2011 ALDE seminar

Rita AndorkHungarian Presidency of the Council

Ministry of Rural DevelopmentRural Development Strategy DepartmentBiodiversity and Gene Conservation Unit


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Council Conclusions 5 December 2008

Strengtheningof environmentalassessmentandofmonitoringarrangements

Appraisalofsocio-economicbenefitsandrisks

Betteruseofexpertise

Europeanlabellingthresholdsforseeds

Sensitiveand/orprotectedareas

B1


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Slide 2

B1 Long term effects

Effects on Human and animal healthBardoczZs, 3/28/2011


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Basic obligationimposed by Directive 2001/18/EC

Member States shall, in accordance with the precautionary principle, ensurethat all appropriate measures are taken to avoid adverse effects on humanhealth and the environment which might arise from the deliberate release orthe placing on the market of GMOs.


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Recurrent legitimacy issues:

the percentage of European Citizens opposing genetically modified food isincreasing1

more than one million signatures were collected to strengthen the currentGMO legislation in the European Union2

1 On public acceptance on GM food seehttp://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_winds_en.pdf;

2 On the first "citizens initiative" under the Lisbon Treaty see,

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/dalli/docs/GMO_Midday_GreenpeacePetition_09122010_en.pdf


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Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Councilamending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the MemberStates to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory

aiming to confer to Member States the freedom to restrict or ban thecultivation of GMOs on part or all of their territory,

while keeping unchanged the existing EU science-based authorisation system

MS may adopt measures

based on what kind of grounds?


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Hungarian Presidency1 January - 30 June 2011

Ad hoc Working Party meetings 11 February

30 March 13 May

Council meetings 14 March ENVI exchange of views

16 May AGRI state of play 17 June ENVI possibly first reading agreement/ or

political agreement/ or political debate


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Hungarian Presidency of the Council1 January - 30 June 2011

List of grounds by the Commission 9 February

Presidency non-paper 9 February

Presidencys compromise proposal on the Commission legislativeinitiative 25 March


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Main point key question

General environmental considerations which

are different from , or complementary to

those covered in Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003

Presidencys view


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General environmental considerations which are different

Protection/maintenance of specific ecosystem functions and services

Protection/maintenance of specific ecosystems and habitats

Protection/maintenance of certain type of natural and landscape features

Presidencys view


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General environmental considerationswhich are complementary

missing or insufficient data with regard to possible adverse effects of GMO

cultivation

Protection of the food web

Protection of biodiversity as a whole - testing for long-term effects

Protection of non-target organisms - field tests, semi-field tests are required

Protection of biogeochemical processes

Presidencys view


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Aim:

MS may adopt measures to restrict/prohibit GMO cultivation in theirterritory based on reasonable grounds


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Thank you for your attention!

Documents

HU Presidency R Andorko ALDE ADLE Seminar 31 03 2011