Correction: Latinopoulou did not vote in favor of GMOs
The European Parliament voted to exempt naturally-occurring genetically modified plants from strict procedures while maintaining safety controls and labeling for traditional GMOs.
According to Voice of Reason, many fake news stories are circulating about the recent vote by the European Parliament and Council regarding the regulation on plants produced with new genomic techniques. This information is creating confusion about the actual content of the decision.
What actually happened
The vote did not concern the acceptance of traditionally modified plants. On the contrary, Parliament approved a division of categories: plants produced with new genomic techniques, which can be proven to be capable of arising through natural processes, are exempted from certain strict procedures.
At the same time, genuinely modified products retain existing protections: they continue to require special approval, strict control, and clear labeling on packaging.
The main misconceptions
- Citizens were not prevented from knowing what they consume. Labeling for genuinely modified products remains mandatory and unchanged.
- There was no vote in favor of “GMOs” in the general sense. The vote specifically concerned plants created with new techniques that do not contain foreign genetic material.
- The abolition of strict controls did not happen. Strict controls and approval procedures for genuinely modified products remain in force.
- In organic products, cultivation of neither category is permitted. The organic sector is not affected.
The advantages for farmers
Plants with increased resistance offer significant economic benefits to European farmers:
- Reduction of losses caused by diseases and pests
- Significant reduction in plant protection costs
- Reduction of fertilizer expenses
- Decreased dependence on imported inputs
- Improved resistance to extreme weather conditions
- More stable and secure harvests, with reduced business risk
The advantages for consumers
Contrary to the claims of some critics, Parliament’s decision also holds benefits for end consumers:
- Fewer pesticides means cleaner crops
- Greater resistance to diseases and climate phenomena ensures food sufficiency
- Reduced losses and lower production costs can facilitate price stabilization
The essence of the decision
The new regulation allows plants that may exhibit greater resistance, lower use of external inputs, and more stable production, without posing additional health risks. This is not an uncontrolled general acceptance of GMOs, but a structured division of categories.
Importantly, the decision applies exclusively within the framework of European agriculture and has nothing to do with imports from Skopje State or international trade agreements such as Mercosur.
