Today the Socialists and Democrats in the all-party committee on the environment and health in the European Parliament voted on a resolution against placing three genetically modified organisms (a type of carnation and two types of maize) on the EU market.

Matthias Groote MEP, S&D spokesperson on the environment, food safety and public health, stated:

"Under no circumstances can we support the Commission's proposal to authorise these new GMOs that are resistant to certain herbicides.

"Today, we have taken the concerns of European citizens into account. According to a Eurobarometer survey on food technology, 58% of Europeans think that GMOs are not safe for future generations. Our main priority here is the health and safety of European citizens. Under no circumstances could the GMOs that are resistant to herbicides be authorised, as these could have negative environmental and health effects."

S&D MEP responsible for this issue, Guillaume Balas, said:

"Last year a majority of MEPs voted for an amendment asking the Commission to reconsider its position concerning the process of placing GMOs on the market.

"The Commission is about to validate the placing on the market of a new glyphosate-resistant transgenic maize and an ornamental carnation containing a gene derived from an anti-diabetic substance. 

"Our objective remains the same: no GMOs – especially those with resistance to herbicides – can be validated by the European Parliament until we have new rules about the process. With support from MEPs in five political groups, these objections are also a way to underline that the will of the Parliament must be respected in the institutional process. This is a question of transparency and democracy."