Voting on new genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Council last week saw more EU nations voting against the controversial new crops than supporting their cultivation, but GM sceptic states couldn’t achieve a sufficient majority for the proposal to be formally shelved.

Member states were voting on proposals to authorise two new strains of GM maize (Syngenta’s Bt11 and Dow Pioneer’s 1507 varieties), and a reauthorisation of a third GM maize variety, Monsanto’s Mon810 maize, which is currently grown in the EU. All three maize varieties have been modified to produce toxins to repel insects and the two newer varieties can also withstand Bayer’s glufosinate herbicide. The proposals are the European Commission’s first to recommend new GM crops for cultivation since 1998.

Thirteen member states voted to reject the new crops, while eight voted in favour. Twelve voted to remove Mon810 (sold as Yieldgard, but not grown in the UK) from EU fields and ten to keep it. In the end, neither decision met the qualified majority voting bar and it is now up to the European Commission to decide what to do next. Under EU rules the Commission can now either reject the GM authorisations, alter the details of the authorisations and ask governments again, or send them to an appeal committee.

Commenting on the vote on Thursday, GM Freeze Director Liz O'Neill said, “With Europe’s nations divided, the Commission must protect our right to grow and eat GM Free by sending these crops packing. National bans are supposed to give countries control over their farms but no measures have been put in place to protect those who have used the ‘opt-out’ mechanism (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) from contamination. Maize pollen travels kilometres and is no more likely to respect a national border than to turn left at a roundabout so keeping GM out of your own back yard is never going to be enough.”

O’Neill suggested the GM varieties could pose a threat to non-target insects, including butterflies.

Despite the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland choosing to opt out of growing GM crops, the UK government has been a consistent supporter of the cops within Europe. Analysts have suggested that the loss of such a populous country could shift the balance on issues like GM within the EU, once Britain has withdrawn from the Union.

In October last year, farming minister George Eustice indicated that an independent UK government would look more favourably on GM crops. He said the government was already considering post-Brexit regulation of GM organisms, and added, “Policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate.”

Commenting on the UK’s voting last week, Liz O’Neil warned, “The UK’s vote in favour of all three GM maize crops, despite each being banned in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, should ring alarm bells for anyone who wants to protect biodiversity and consumer choice in post-Brexit Britain.”