 |
Commission to approve five GMOs
(January 19, 2008) The European Commission now is entitled to approve the import and processing of five genetically modified organisms (GMOs), after the Council of Agricultural Ministers did not establish a qualified majority either for or against the market placement of these GMOs.
The requests of approval presented to the Council covered four varieties of GM maize and one potato variety with a modified starch composition. Directed towards use as food, as feed or for industrial purposes, none of the applications is for cultivation of the plants within the European Union. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed food and feed from the five GMOs to be as safe as products from conventional plants. Since the Council has concluded its proceedings on these files, the Commission now has assumed the responsibility of finalising the decision-making process according to EU law. As already has been the case, it seems very likely that the Commission will follow EFSA's scientific advise and authorise the five products within weeks.
Three applications concern maize hybrids of GM maize varieties already authorised for food and feed use in the EU (MON 863, MON 810, NK 603). All lines were developed by Monsanto. According to EU officials, eleven of the 27 Member States voted against their approval. In the case of the herbicide-resistant maize variety GA 21 from Syngenta, ten of the 27 countries withheld consent.
The authorisation of the genetically modified starch potato Amflora, developed by BASF to be rich in amylopectin, was rejected by 14 Member States. The application referred only to the use of Amflora as feed but, in a separate approval request, BASF also has applied for the actual cultivation of the potato. The Council was unable to reach a qualified majority on the this application last July and the relevant file also has been forwarded to the Commission. The company retains hope that the cultivation of Amflora may begin in Spring.
See also on GMO-Compass:
|
![[nach oben springen]](/images/icons/icon_gotop_9x9.gif){kind=icon}