Maize MON 810: France triggers safeguard clause

(January 13, 2008) France has triggered a safeguard clause provided in the EU law to extend its national ban of the genetically modified maize MON810. Simultaneously, the government has announced an eightfold increase in research funding for green biotechnology to 45 Mio Euro.

Under the decision of the French government, the cultivation of Bt-maize MON810 has been declared illegal until a review of its approval through European authorities has taken place. Prior to this step, a national, high-authority committee had given a cautiously critical assessment of MON810. The committee, consisting of scientists, farmers, politicians and environmental groups, had examined recent scientific publications on the impact of Bt-maize on human health and the environment. In presenting the report last week to government officials and the press, Jean-François Le Grand, the chairman of the group, spoke of negative environmental effects and of "serious doubts" in regard to the safety of MON810. This statement led to turmoil among the 34 members of the committee.

A group of twelve scientists and two economists accused Le Grand, a member of the UMP party, of misinterpreting the report and of abusing it for political reasons. As a collection of scientific publications on MON810 since its EU approval in 1998, the avis of the committee does not in fact refer to "serious doubts" but concludes that questions remain that concern the impact of Bt-maize on health and the environment. These questions mainly are related to the long-distance dissemination of pollen, the disposition of the Bt toxin in the environment and its long-term effects on non-target organisms. The committee recommends further research on these points.

Whether the French government successfully defends its national ban in Brussels remains to be seen. It will be backed by the governments of Austria and Hungary, which also have banned MON810. To justify its use of the safeguard clause, France must offer new or additional scientific knowledge exposing MON810 as a risk to human health or the environment. If the scientific grounds presented by France for its ban of MON810 are not accepted by the EU, the country may be forced to lift its ban.

After several reviews of the scientific knowledge base, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has upheld its assessment that MON810 poses no risk. In Germany, the authorisation of MON810 had been suspended in April 2007 but the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) confirmed its safety in December and has allowed its cultivation in the coming season.

The national farmers’ union FNSEA has criticised the French ban. A speaker for the union has expressed the expectation that the lack of "serious scientific arguments" will result in the legal inability of the government to maintain the ban. Without Bt maize, farmers would have no choice but to combat the European corn borer with chemical methods.

Last year, MON810 maize was grown on a total of 21,000 hectares in France. Research and trial releases remain unaffected by the prohibition.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• German authority clears MON810

Further information:

• Report of the French High Authority

• French government announcing the use of the safeguard clause
• Use of the safeguard clause within member states