EU food safety: Slovakia challenges GMO rules as Brazil meat imports face suspension

The European Union is facing scrutiny over food safety and regulatory standards. Slovakia has decided to challenge new EU rules at the Court of Justice regarding plants produced via new genomic techniques. These rules would remove mandatory safety checks, labeling, and full traceability for certain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), treating them similarly to traditionally grown plants.

In a separate regulatory action, the EU will suspend the import of Brazilian meat and other animal products starting September 3. This suspension follows Brazil's failure to provide sufficient guarantees that its livestock production meets EU standards regarding antibiotic use.

European Parliament members have raised concerns about the discrepancy between strict EU production standards and those in Mercosur countries. Critics argue that unequal regulations regarding pesticides, hormones, and GMOs threaten the competitiveness of European farmers and the right of consumers to make informed choices about the food they consume.