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THE ROLE OF THE EFSA

GMO Free Europe. THE ROLE OF THE EFSA. Provides scientific opinions for European Institutions these opinions are used by the European Commission to force new GM products onto the market in the absence of a qualified majority by member states. GMO Free Europe.

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THE ROLE OF THE EFSA

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  1. GMO Free Europe THE ROLE OF THE EFSA • Provides scientific opinions for European Institutions • these opinions are used by the European Commission to force new GM products onto the market in the absence of a qualified majority by member states

  2. GMO Free Europe For example, in July 2004 Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said:"The NK603 maize has been subject to a rigorous pre-market risk assessment. It has been scientifically assessed by the European Food Safety Authority as being as safe as any conventional maize. Its safety is, therefore, not in question, and neither is the question of user or consumer choice.”

  3. GMO Free Europe USED BY THE INDUSTRY “Acting in accordance with EU regulations and the positive safety opinion of 1507 maize given by EFSA, the Commission has today given its decision to approve 1507 maize,” Simon Barber, Europabio

  4. GMO Free Europe The GMO Panel scientists • One member has direct financial links with the biotech industry • Several have indirect links, eg acting as advisors for industry conferences • Two members appear in promotional videos produced by the biotech industry. • Eight members of the Panel, including the chair, are already involved in assessing GM applications at the national level

  5. GMO Free Europe THE EFSA SO FAR • 21 opinions • 21 in favour of the industry • One GMO needed more research

  6. GMO Free Europe Antibiotic resistance markers (ARMs) • Directive 2001/18: phase out of ARMs which “may have adverse effects on human health and the environment” • EFSA: also “taking into account the limited availability of alternatives”. • EFSA: ARMs are required “to ensure the efficient selection of transgenic events in plants.”

  7. GMO Free Europe Antibiotic resistance markers (ARMs) • The ampR gene is present in Syngenta’s Bt176 maize • EFSA: “should not be present in GM plants to be placed on the market.” • However, should only apply to future GM crops, ie won’t support Austrian ban.

  8. GMO Free Europe THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND A review of the European Food Safety Authority and its work on genetically modified foods and crops. www.foeeurope.org/GMOs November 2004

  9. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge October 2005, EFSA Stakeholder Platform

  10. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge Challenge 1: EFSA must consider long term human or environmental effects. Challenge 2: EFSA must address differences in scientific opinion within the EU

  11. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge Challenge 3: The EFSA must address the scientific uncertainties and, as a consequence the precautionary principle Challenge 4 The EFSA must review the make up of its scientific panels with a view to making them absent of vested interests

  12. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge Challenge 5: The Management Board should insist that all interests are declare. Failure to declare should result in dismissal of the individual. Challenge 6 Draft minutes should be published within a week and final minutes within 3 weeks

  13. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge Challenge 7: All stakeholders should be able to write to scientific panels. Challenge 8: The EFSA should make available all documents that the public are entitled to.

  14. GMO Free Europe The EFSA Challenge Challenge 9: The EFSA must define values/thresholds that state when observed significant differences are to be considered as of concern. Challenge 10 The EFSA must take steps to improve its relationship with NGOS

  15. GMO Free Europe Growing criticism and opportunities • Commission has now sent back 2 opinions • Concerns about EFSA raised at Council meetings and in the European Parliament • Lack of support from NGOs • New GMO Panel in 2006 • New Chief Executive in 2006

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