The European Commission is preparing to open the doors of the European Union (EU) to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) resulting from new genomic techniques (NTGs), by exempting them from the obligations and controls applicable to GMOs.
If this law is passed, foods containing new GMOs will no longer be subject to risk assessment and will not be traced or labeled. This is a serious attack on consumer choice and exposes us to numerous health and environmental risks.
Today, 92% of French consumers want “new GMOs” to be explicitly stated on food packaging. This bill denies them this right to information, even though it is enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 169). This is an anachronistic project for French consumers who rightly want to know what is on their plate. Nevertheless, transparency, which is at the heart of the relationship of trust between actors in the agricultural and food industry and consumers, must be strengthened in view of the recurring food scandals.
However, is it enough to inform consumers about NTGs? The extent of the impact of new GMOs on human health is still poorly understood. Instead of being abolished, risk assessment in line with the precautionary principle should be maintained or even strengthened. Without a rigorous assessment, French food security is at risk.
Major environmental risks
This health risk is accompanied by major environmental risks. Genetically modified (GM) plants can mix with wild plants and thus spread their genes in an uncontrolled manner. For example, a genetically modified plant that is tolerant to a herbicide can transfer this tolerance to similar wild plants. New GMOs that produce an insecticidal protein could be harmful to other non-target insects that play critical roles in our ecosystems.
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Furthermore, NTG plants that select for favorable traits could behave like invasive plants and disrupt the existing natural balance. While our landscape is already compromised by declining biodiversity, climate change and chemical pollution, do we want to further weaken it and jeopardize our ability to produce healthy food for future generations?
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