MEPs in the European Parliament voted for a final time today in favour of allowing member states to legally ban or restrict Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in their territories. The result of the vote was 480 in favour and 159 against. 58 abstained.
However, by giving member states more power to “opt-out” on GMOs many campaigners and politicians fear this will actually make it easier for pro-GM Governments to “opt-in” and therefore enable more GMOs.
An email sent by The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in December 2014 said that as a result of this new legislation “we now expect to see GM Maize 1507 get its final authorisation in the near future, and new applications should be approved much more quickly than has been the case until now.”
Keith Taylor Green MEP for South East England who voted against the new proposals today said:
“This agreement is not all it seems. While giving EU countries new powers to ban GMOs - I believe what this will mean in reality for the UK is more GMOs not fewer. This is because our pro-GM Government are now able to give the go-ahead to more authorisations.
I remain convinced that GMOs cause contamination of crops, are bad for our health and that small scale sustainable agriculture is the answer to solving future food shortages”.
Notes to Editors