GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. They are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially modified in order to give it a new property. For example, this could be to make it easier for a plant to resist a disease, insects or drought, or to increase crop productivity.

The EU's GMO legislation stems from 1990 when the first two directives concerning GMOs came into force. Both original directives have since been updated, but the definition of a GMO has remained unchanged. This is causing problems for new techniques developed since then. New plant genetic modification techniques, referred to as 'gene editing' or 'genome editing', have evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing much faster and more precise results than conventional plant-breeding techniques. They are seen as a promising, innovative field for the agri-food industry, offering great technical potential.There is, however, considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated, and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/genetically-modified-organism-8th-parliamentary-term_6504_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Genetically modified organism

In March 2015, the co-legislators adopted new EU rules allowing Member States to prohibit or restrict the cultivation of crops containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their territory, even if they are allowed at EU level.

Under the old rules (Directive 2001/18/EC), Member States could provisionally ban or restrict the use of a GMO on their territory only if they had new evidence that the organism concerned constituted a risk to human health or the environment, or in the case of an emergency.

Genetically modified organism - 8th parliamentary term

EP Plenary session - Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed

Maria HEUBUCH (Greens/EFA, DE), STAES, Bart (Greens/EFA,BE)

Greens-EFA debate on GMOs

Plenary session week 3 2015 in Strasbourg - Explanations of vote - Possibility for the Membe States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs

Plenary session week 3 2015 in Strasbourg - Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs

ENVI committee meeting - Vote on Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory

Agricultural production

Vegetable production, pesticides

During the plenary session, MEPs debate and vote the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient.

New genomic techniques: statement by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), extracts from the debate and votes

MEPs debate the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient.

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: MEPs debate (Part 2)

MEPs debate the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality and Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur.

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality and Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient. Opening statements by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ) on behalf of AGRI Committee and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: opening statements by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ) on behalf of AGRI Committee and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Debate on the Objections to GMO maize and invasive species list during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Vote on the report by Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE)

Objections to GMO maize and invasive species list : extracts of the vote on the report by Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE)

Meeting of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territory, in the EP in Brussels. Vote and statement by Giovanni LA VIA (EPP,IT) , Rapporteur.

The possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of genetically modified food and feed on their territory: extracts from the vote and statement by Giovanni LA VIA (EPP,IT) , Rapporteur

Vote during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs. Opening of the votes and announcement of the results by Mairead MCGUINESS (EPP, IE), Vice-President of the EP.

Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs: extracts from the vote on the report by Frédérique RIES (ALDE,BE)

Debate&nbsp;during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs. Extracts from the debate. Statements by&nbsp;Fr&eacute;d&eacute;rique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur,&nbsp;Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS, Member of the EC in charge of Health and Food Safety,&nbsp;Elisabeth K&Ouml;STINGER (EPP, AT), Shadow-rapporteur,&nbsp;Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE) and&nbsp;Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&amp;D, FR), Shadow-rapporteur.

Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs: extracts from the debate

This stockshot illustrates fields of Genetically Modified Corn, a factory producing animal food with GM corn flour and a farmer feeding his animals with that, inHuesca,Spain. This shooting took place in July 2013.

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