List
of GMO maize varieties inscribed in the Common Catalogue and in a national catalogue
as of September 2006 Genetically modified seeds in the European Communities common seed catalogue
Situation:
On September 8th 2004 the European Commission announced for the first time the
inscription of 17 genetically modified maize varieties derived from Monsantos
GM maize MON 810 in the Common EU Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant
Species. The Common Catalogue is compiled on the basis of the national catalogues
of the Member States. It lists around 30 000 varieties. Once a variety of seed
is properly inscribed in a national catalogue, the Commission is notified and
is required to inscribe the variety in the Common Catalogue by publication in
the Official Journal. Seed varieties in the Common Catalogue can be marketed
in the entire EU, seed of varieties in the national catalogues only on the market
of the country concerned.
However, seeds which have been inscribed in the Common
Catalogue can be exempted from national marketing by member states (Art.
16 and 18 of Directive 2002/53 see below). Such decisions must then be confirmed
by the European Unions Standing Committee on Seeds.
The GM varieties
now listed had been inscribed in the national seed catalogues of Spain (11)
and France (6). Mon 810 varieties have been planted commercially only in Spain
(50.000 ha) and for testing in France (500 ha), Czech Republik (100 ha) and
Germany (900 ha).
In early 2005 Poland and Greece enacted national prohibitions of the 17 GM varieties
under their national seed legislation and informed the EU Commission about it.
After an exchange
of views in the EU Standing Committee on Seeds on how to deal with the national
bans in Poland and Greece the Commission proposed to overturn the ban in Greece.This
proposal is to be legally enacted unless a qualified majoritiy (2/3) of member
states votes against it in the Council of ministers. At meeting
of the Standing Committee on Seeds in July 2005 there were 169 votes in
favour (11 Member States) of the Commission proposal , 109 votes against (9
Member States) and 47 votes abstaining (4 Member States). One Member State was
not represented (3 votes). The Council of Ministers in October 2005 again did
not agree with a qualified majority. Three months later, in January 2006, the
Commission demanded that Greece lifts it's ban on the Mon 810 varieties. The
Greek government in January 2006 decided to enact a new ban on all Mon 810 seed
varieties. The procedure on this new ban is still pending. So is the procedure
on the Polish ban.
Background Documents:
24th
complete edition of the Common Catalogue (March 2006, all languages, 500
pages, continously supplemented)
Contains all varieties inscribed as well as a list of the persons responsible
for maintaining these seed varieties and the national seed authorities in charge
Minutes
of the discussion and vote in the Standing Committee on Seeds July 20th 2005
Homepage
of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material of Agriculture,
Horticulture and Forestry
(includes list of national seed authorities attending the Committee)
Continously
updated overview on all GM varieties listed in the European Seed Catalogue as
well as in national seed catalogues ( in German)
operated by AGES, Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit
GmbH
European
Commissions press release on the first inscription of the first GM varieties
into the Common Seed Catalogue (September 8th 2004)
Problem:
Unless national governments act to prohibit the use of GM
varieties in their country, these varieties can be legally sold and planted
on their territory even where there are no adequate rules and procedures in
place how to handle GMO planting.
Action:
1) Write to Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and urge him to
accept national seed variety prohibitions as a means of member states to secure
coexistence and protection of non-gm farming.
