EU approves import of biotech T45 rapeseed

(11 March 2009) The EU Commission has approved the import of the genetically modified T45 rapeseed and its use in the food and feed chain. Member States were unable to come to an agreement forcing the EU Commission to grant approval based on a scientific risk assessment of the T45 rapeseed.

The herbicide-tolerant T45 rapeseed developed by Bayer Crop Science has been commercially grown over the past ten years in Canada, the world's leading country of rapeseed products. Almost all rapeseed products sown in Canada are herbicide-tolerant, the majority of which is genetically engineered.

Rapeseed imports into the EU may now contain portions of T45 rapeseed. Food and feed products with accidental, technically unavoidable admixtures under the legal threshold of 0.9 percent of this rapeseed do not require labelling.

In a vote by the Council of Environment Ministers, the T45 rapeseed ended up failing to achieve approval from a qualified majority of Member States – as has been the case with all other GM products undergoing the authorisation process. The EU Commission had recommended approval based on a scientific risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which found no indication of risk. In such cases, the EU Commission is committed by European agreement to invoke valid statutory provisions. As all authorisation requirements had been complied with, the import of T45 rapeseed was approved.

See also on GMO Compass:

• GMO Database: T45 rapeseed
• Global Cultivation Area: Rapeseed

Further information:

• GMO Safety:
  Genetically modified oilseed rape in Canada: Taking stock after ten years of cultivation