European Commission Directive may stop all GMO's

The most significant element in the new Directive is the requirement for evidence that the GMO is genetically stable. If strictly implemented, it is likely to disqualify most if not all GMOs for environmental release. This is because GMOs in general tend to be genetically unstable.

Since several years scientists have warned that the techniques of genetic engingeering are such that they cause a disturbance of DNA in such a way that unexpected changes may occur. This was recently confirmed by research under the auspices of the European Commission:

University Blasise Pascal in France & The Max-Planck-Institut fur Zuchtingsforschung in Germany, explored mechanisms that contribute to genetic instability in GMOs. It concludes that GMOs are inherently unstable because of the nature of the manipulation:

"...A major problem with present day technology is the non-predictability of the integration of...transgenes [inserted genes]. DNA introduced into plant cells mostly integrates at random, i.e. at non-predetermined positions... DNA integrated at random frequently contains multiple copies and often copies are scrambled. Multiple copies also often induce gene silencing and hence instability in the expression of the introduced genes. In addition, ... DNA ... at loci [positions] of unknown stability ...may induce unpredictable and undesirable mutations in the host genome... (see http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/quality-of-life/gmo/01-plants/01-14-project.html)

...we still lack the knowledge for precision engineering of plants´ genes.".

In essence, because of this instability it is impossible to make sure that what is sown on the fields will be the same as declared by the manufacturer. An example of this has already been demonstrated:

Recently, a new test procedure has come into use for examining if the DNA of a GMO is identical with the intended one. This method was applied by a Belgian team on Monsanto's RoundUp Ready soy. Monsanto’s had claimed that Roundup Ready soya had a single package of inserted DNA with the intended order of genes. The analysis revealed, however, that both the inserted DNA package and the host genome have been scrambled (rearranged), and unknown DNA has got in as well. (See "Scrambled genome of RR soya").