Five environmental, health and agriculture organisations (Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, HEAL, IFOAM EU and Pesticide Action Network Europe) wrote to EU Commission President Juncker to propose ways to improve the EU decision-making process in the area of health and consumer protection, including on agricultural products such as pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Under current rules, the Commission can approve pesticides, biocides, GMOs and other regulated food and agricultural products without the support of a qualified majority of EU member states, and has done so frequently. This situation is untenable. It compromises the EU’s democratic credentials, and undermines the protection of public health and the environment.
The Commission is reviewing the decision-making process and on the eve of its publication, the organisations call for the EU to allow the use of potentially hazardous products and food preparation processes only when it is confident that this will not harm people or the environment, in line with the precautionary principle. And, to take different approaches to decisions in favour of such products and processes and those against such substances.
Read the open letter