Resolution on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1898 of 22 September 2025 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP51291 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
The European Parliament adopted by 433 votes to 166, with 9 abstentions, a resolution objecting to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1898 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize DP51291.
On 27 January 2023, Corteva Agriscience Belgium B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Corteva Agriscience LLC, based in the United States, submitted an application to the national competent authority of the Netherlands for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP51291.
Complex genetic engineering
Maize DP51291 was developed through a complex, multi-step genetic engineering process. This process resulted in the deletion of DNA sequences and the formation of potentially allergenic open reading frames.
Lack of data on agricultural practices and environmental factors
The field trials used to support the compositional and phenotypic analysis of the GM maize were conducted over a single growing season (2021) in the United States and Canada under weather conditions that do not adequately represent the diversity of maize-growing regions, particularly in countries such as Brazil. Field trial data may not sufficiently reflect the full range of environmental and agricultural conditions under which the GM maize is likely to be cultivated or imported.
Lack of assessment of glufosinate
Glufosinate is associated with significant risks to biodiversity, toxicity, and long-term ecosystem health. The vast majority of GM crops have been engineered to be tolerant to one or more ‘complementary’ herbicides that can be used throughout the GM crop's cultivation without the crop dying. Several studies have shown that herbicide tolerance in GM crops is leading to an increase in the use of complementary herbicides, particularly due to the emergence of herbicide-tolerant weeds.
The assessment of herbicide residues and metabolites found in genetically modified plants is considered outside the remit of the EFSA Panel on GMOs, and is therefore not undertaken as part of the GMO authorisation process.
Furthermore, questions remain regarding the IPD072Aa toxin. Despite differences, the similarities observed between IPD072Aa and Bt toxins highlight the need for careful consideration in the risk assessment process.
Ensuring a global level playing field and upholding the Union’s international obligations
Parliament recalled that the cultivation of the GM maize is not permitted in the Union. However, the draft Commission decision authorises imports into the EU of products that do not comply with the standards observed by EU farmers, which would put them at a competitive disadvantage.
In addition, the EU's obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity must be taken into account. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, includes a global target of reducing pesticide risks by at least 50% by 2030.
It is also important that the Union reduces its dependence on imported feed in light of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
On the procedural front, Parliament recalled that it has adopted 36 resolutions objecting to the placing on the market of GMOs and the cultivation of GMOs. While it itself acknowledged the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support of the Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs. No opinion was delivered following the vote of 13 June 2025 in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, which means that the authorisation was not supported by a qualified majority of Member States. In its vote of 15 July 2025, the Appeal Committee also did not deliver an opinion.
Recommendations
Based on these considerations, Parliament considered that the Commission's implementing decision is not in consistent with Union law. It therefore called on the Commission to:
- repeal Implementing Decision and to submit a new draft to the committee;
- ensure convergence of standards between the Union and its partners in free trade agreement negotiations, in order to meet Union safety standards;
- not to authorise the GM maize due to the increased risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health in line with the One Health approach;
- urgently deliver on its commitment to bring forward a proposal to ensure that hazardous chemicals banned in the Union are not produced for export;
- take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN CBD and the UN SDGs; reiterates its call for draft implementing acts to be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’.
Parliament expressed disappointment that the Commission has, since 2020, continued to authorise GMOs for import into the Union, despite ongoing objections by Parliament and a majority of Member States voting against.