Members of the European Parliament rejected a proposal to let EU countries ban imports of genetically engineered food and livestock feed, potentially killing “an initiative that was greeted with widespread criticism,” reports Bloomberg. The EU agreed earlier this year to empower its members to “opt out” of EU approval of GMO crops and its administrative body, the European Commission, proposed a similar rule for GE imports. “The EU Parliament’s rejection … of the food and feed measure reflects concerns it would have been a step too far in denting a free-trade tenet of the bloc,” said Bloomberg.
The opt-out proposal for GE imports was criticized by both sides of the debate on GMO foods. Environmental groups said the ban would not stand up in court, given the EU’s free-market rules. Pro-GE groups said a ban would cut into the supply of livestock feed and discourage companies from seeking EU approval of their products. The environmental committee of the EU Parliament voted against the proposal earlier this month.