Resolution on the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton MON 88913 (MON-88913-8), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

The European Parliament adopted by 452 votes to 182, with 13 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the draft Commission implementing decision renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton MON 88913 (MON-88913-8), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 28 February 2024, Bayer Agriculture B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States, submitted an application to the Commission for the renewal of that authorisation. The scope of that authorisation also covers the placing on the market of products, other than food and feed, containing or consisting of the GM cotton for the same uses as any other cotton, with the exception of cultivation.

EFSA issued a favourable opinion on 26 March 2025, concluding that the renewal application did not contain evidence of new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of its original risk assessment issued in 2013.

Lack of assessment

However, EFSA’s assessment did not include new long-term feeding studies or address cumulative, combinatorial or indirect effects on human health, animal health and the environment. The resolution highlighted that GM cotton is herbicide-tolerant to glyphosate and glyphosate is associated with potential endocrine-disrupting effects and other environmental and health concerns, while also contributing to biodiversity loss through herbicide-intensive agricultural practices. Questions concerning the carcinogenicity of glyphosate remain.

EFSA concluded in November 2015 that glyphosate was unlikely to be carcinogenic and the European Chemicals Agency concluded in March 2017 that no classification was warranted. On the contrary, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans. In addition, a number of recent peer reviewed scientific studies confirm the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate.

Parliament stressed that independent monitoring and surveillance remain insufficient, particularly regarding long-term environmental effects on pollinators, soil organisms and non-target species. It also highlighted that it has repeatedly objected to the authorisation or renewal of GMOs in cases where no qualified majority is reached by Member States in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed or the Appeal Committee, underlining the persistent democratic deficit in the authorisation procedure.

Recommendations

On the basis of these considerations, Parliament considered that the Commission's implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and that it is not consistent EU law. Consequently, it called on the Commission to:

- withdraw its draft implementing decision;

- not renew the authorisation of the GM cotton due to concerns linked to herbicide use, biodiversity impacts and insufficient evidence on long-term safety, in line with the One Health approach;

- submit, without delay, a legislative proposal to reform the decision-making procedure on GMOs in order to respond to the consistent objections of Parliament and the lack of qualified majority support among Member States;

- take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.