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 GHB614 × LLCotton25 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

The European Parliament adopted by 463 votes to 164, with 21 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 GHB614 × LLCotton25 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/690 authorised the placing on the market of food and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB614 × LLCotton25 (the GM cotton). The scope of that authorisation also covered 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.

On 22 March 2024, BASF SE, based in Germany, on behalf of BASF Agricultural Solutions Seed US LLC, based in the United States, submitted an application to the Commission for the renewal of that authorisation. On 7 August 2025, EFSA issued a favourable scientific opinion on the GM cotton in which it concluded that the renewal application did not contain evidence of any new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on the GM cotton, adopted by EFSA in 2014. Those opinions did not address several broader environmental, socio-economic, and cumulative impacts which EFSA considers to fall outside its remit.

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

Lack of evaluation

The resolution stated that 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 cotton 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 Commission implementing decision would continue to 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.

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 renew the authorisation of the GM cotton 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 commitments such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.