Mar 18, 2010 | 8:11 am

Maize NK603 x MON810

Summary of risk assessment

Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Adopted 13/10/2005
ConclusionNK603 x MON810 maize is as safe as conventional maize, and releasing NK603xMON810 for processing and food and feed use is unlikely to cause adverse effects on human health and the environment.

 

Comparative study
Basis of comparsionConventional counterpart (isogenic line)
Qualities of the plantSeveral parameters such as phenotype and agronomic traits were compared with the control line and several conventional maize hybrids.
Compositional analysisAnimal feeding trails (broiler chickens and rodents) revealed no relevant differences in composition between NK603 x MON810 maize and its non-transgenic counterparts.

Studies investigated nutrients, secondary metabolites and anti-nutrients.

 

Safety of food and feed
New proteins
(CP4 EPSPS+ CRY1A(b))		In a 42 day feeding study, chickens were fed a diet of NK603 x MON810 maize: No negative effects were reported.

No correspondence with known toxins.

Assessment of food and feedFeeding studies with broiler chickens, dairy cows, beef cattle, and pigs: No adverse effects have been linked to the presence of the novel enzymes in maize and other plant foods and feeds.
Allergenicity of the new proteinThe protein is not homologous to known allergens (comparision of amino sequence sequence data).

The protein is quickly broken down by intestinal fluid.

Tests on the allergenicity of the whole GM plant were deemed unnecessary as maize tends not to be an allergenic food.

Nutritional equivalenceThis interpretation is strengthened by a 42-day nutritional feeding study on broiler chickens that showed NK603xMON810 maize was as nutritious as conventional maize.

NK603, MON810, and NK603 x MON810 maize have been studied in separate nutritional feeding studies with broiler chickens. No adverse effects were observed.

Horizontal gene transferStudies have shown that large, functional fragments of DNA are not taken up by microorganisms.

 

Enviromental safety
Survivebility Maize is highly domesticated and it is not viable outside of cultivation.
Out-crossingMaize has no wild relatives in Europe. Out-crossing is only possible with maize in neighbouring fields.
Non-target organismsNo effects on non-target organisms were found.
Field trailsEvaluation of field trails in France (2000).