Multi-level Governance of Genetically Modified Organisms in the European Union: Ambiguity and Hierarchy

Abstract

Abstract Authority for the regulation of GMOs in the European Union is far from straightforward. Profound and long-lasting disagreement over the proper role for agricultural biotechnology led to legislation that attempts to share authority and avoid hierarchy. However, the disagreement is such that compromise and accommodation is not proving possible through the mechanisms of consultation, transparency, and deliberation provided in the legislation. In these circumstances, there is a reversion to hierarchy, and the Commission ultimately takes responsibility for moving GMOs through the regulatory process. Yet, such turn to hierarchy is not straightforward either: decisions are slow and contested, and disagreement rumbles on. These difficult circumstances force us to face squarely the proper place for authoritative decision making on GMOs. The current approach, including the Commission's misguided efforts to centralize authority, simply postpones that process.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199542482.003.0006

Journal

The Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms: Comparative Approaches

Year

2010