Resolution on the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1419 of 29 June 2026 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean MON 87705 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
The European Parliament adopted by 466 votes to 175, with 16 abstentions, objecting to the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1419 of 29 June 2026 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean MON 87705 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1419 renewed the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified soybean MON 87705 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
On 8 March 2024, Bayer Agriculture BV, 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. On 12 January 2026, EFSA issued a favourable scientific opinion on the GM soybean, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. EFSA 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 soybean, adopted by EFSA in 2012 and 2013. Those opinions did not address several broader environmental, socio-economic, and cumulative impacts which EFSA considers to fall outside its remit.
The GM soybean has an increased oleic acid content and exhibits tolerance to glyphosate-containing herbicides.
Shortcomings in the evaluation
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.
The vast majority of GM crops, including the GM soybean, have been genetically modified so that they are tolerant to one or more ‘complementary’ herbicides which can be used throughout the cultivation of the GM crop, without the crop dying. However, a number of studies show that herbicide-tolerant GM crops result in a higher use of complementary herbicides. Furthermore, significant scientific uncertainties regarding the safety of glyphosate for human health and the environment persist.
Moreover, 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:
- repeal Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1419;
- not to authorise the import of herbicide-tolerant GM crops, due to the associated increased use of complementary herbicides and therefore the increased risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health;
- take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.