A European Parliamentary Committee last week endorsed new regulations that would allow genetically modified pollen in EU honey without requiring extra labelling.

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The rules were adopted in light of a report by Conservative MEP Julie Girling, though voting was close, with only three votes separating the two sides. The Council of Ministers has also agreed to the new rules.

A European Court of Justice ruling in 2011 raised the question of pollen's status in honey. The Court initially considered pollen an ingredient, meaning it would require labelling, but the Commission proposed a change of definition to avoid this.

Ilaria Passarani, Head of consumer interest group BEUC's Food and Health Department, said last week, "Our golden rule is that consumers have the right to know what they eat. There is no reason why honey should escape GM labelling, just like any other… food. Scrapping labelling of genetically modified pollen means scrapping consumers' right to choose between GM and natural honey."

BUEC claims the Committee vote went against the principles of the EU Honey Directive, mandatory GM labelling laws and the ruling of the ECJ.

The rules passed by the ENVI committee on Wednesday 19^th will have to be voted on in the Parliament plenary next month before they gain official Parliament backing.

Passarani added, "We urge the entire Parliament when it votes next month, to put consumers' right to know before the interests of honey importers."