Feb 11, 2012 | 9:03 am

Maize MON89034

Summary of risk assessment

Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Adopted 03/12/2008
Conclusion MON89034 maize is as safe as conventional maize, and releasing MON89034 for processing and food and feed use is unlikely to cause adverse effects on human health and the environment.

 

Comparative analysis
Basis of comparsion Conventional maize cultivars LH198 x LH172 and DKC51-43.
Qualities of the plant Several parameters were compared such as field traits (stress resistance, interaction with insects), pollen production, germination, and external features.
Compositional analysis The following were investigated: the proportion and composition of carbohydrates, protein, fibre characteristics, moisture, oil content, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and plant secondary metabolites.
No biologically significant changes were observed.

 

Safety of food and feed
New protein(CP4 EPSPS) No correspondence with known toxins.

No indications of adverse effects related to the exposure to the Cry1A.105 protein or the Cry2Ab2 protein were found in studies on acute oral toxicity in mice. There were no adverse effects in a 90-day feeding study with rats fed diets including kernels from maize MON89034.

Allergenicity of the new protein No correspondence with known allergens (amino acid sequence comparison).

The protein is rapidly broken down by intestinal fluid.

Assessment for food and feed A 42 day feeding study was conducted on broiler chicken fed transgenic maize. Several clinical, biochemical, and histological paramters were compared with control groups that were fed conventional maize.
No negative health effects could be attributed to MON89034 maize.
Nutritional equivalence Feeding studies on chickens fed a diet consisting of MON89034 maize flour did not report negative effects.

 

Enviromental safety
Survivebility Maize is highly domesticated and is not viable outside of cultivation.
Out-crossing Maize has no cross-compatible wild relatives in Europe. Out-crossing is only possible with maize in neighbouring fields.
Field trials Evaluation of field trails in the USA (2004-2005), and Argentina (2004).