In the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) on 14 March, the Polish EU Presidency managed to secure a narrow majority for its "compromise text" supporting new GMO deregulation. The text differed very little from the original EU Commission proposal of 2023, which would exempt new GMOs from any labelling, safety checks, monitoring, and liability requirements. However, the events that led up to the qualified majority vote were highly irregular and could lead to failure of the proposal in future meetings – or acceptance of a "compromise" that betrays consumers, farmers, and nature. Crucial to the majority in favour of deregulation was Belgium's U-turn in supporting the text, which came as a surprise because the country's stance had previously been to abstain on the deregulation proposal. Greece also suddenly changed its position from opposing to supporting the deregulation proposal, though its turnabout was not crucial to obtaining the majority in the way Belgium's apparent turn around was. In a confusing development, the Belgian government has circulated a statement suggesting that it doesn't agree with the text it voted for. And Greece's vote was contrary to its own scientific advisors and competent authority on GMOs in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. GMWatch

 

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