Resolution on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean DBN-09004-6 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

The European Parliament adopted by 461 votes to 169, with 22 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean DBN-09004-6 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 20 December 2019, Perseus BV, based in Belgium, submitted, on behalf of Beijing DaBeiNong Biotechnology Co., Ltd., based in China, an application to the national competent authority of Belgium for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean DBN-09004-6 (the ‘GM soybean’), in accordance with Articles 5 and 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. The application also covered the placing on the market of products containing or consisting of GM soybean for uses other than food and feed, with the exception of cultivation. On 7 July 2025, EFSA issued a favourable scientific opinion, in which it concluded that GM soybean, as described in the application, is as safe as its conventional counterpart and the tested non-genetically modified soybean reference varieties with respect to the potential effects on human and animal health and the environment. That opinion did not address several broader environmental, socio-economic, and cumulative impacts which EFSA considers to fall outside its remit.

The GM soybean has been developed to confer tolerance to glufosinate and to glyphosate.

Lack of evaluation

The resolution stated that serious questions concerning the carcinogenicity of glyphosate remain. The risk assessments carried out by EFSA did not include long-term toxicological studies or detailed analysis of cumulative and combinatorial effects, including potential interactions with residues of pesticides commonly used in soybean cultivation.

According to the resolution, independent monitoring and surveillance of potential adverse effects on biodiversity, soil health, pollinators and non-target organisms remain insufficiently guaranteed.

Furthermore, the draft Commission implementing decision would allow imports into the Union that do not comply with the standards observed by Union farmers, thereby placing them at a competitive disadvantage.

Parliament has repeatedly stressed that the Commission should not authorise 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, in order to address the persistent democratic deficit. Despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs. This resolution will be almost the 100th resolution objecting to the authorisation of imports of GMO crops that the European Parliament has adopted.

Recommendations

In light of these considerations, Parliament concluded that the Commission's implementing decision exceeded the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and was not in conformity with European Union law. Consequently, it called on the Commission to:

- withdraw its enforcement decision;

- not authorise the GM soybean due to the lack of sufficient evidence on long-term impacts on biodiversity, food safety, farmers’ livelihoods and animal health, 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 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.