EU Commission give approval for genetically modified maize
Relaxation in the dispute on animal feed imports
(30.10.2009) The EU Commission has approved the import
of genetically modified maize strains MON88017, MON89034 and 59122xNK603 as well
as food and feedstuffs produced from these strains. This means that agricultural
consignments from the USA that contain small amounts of these GM maize strains
can be imported into the EU.
A week after no definite vote could be reached by the
member countries in the council of ministers, the EU Commission has issued a
written statement approving the importation of these three GM maize varieties.
After the meeting of the EU agricultural ministers, the outgoing commissioner
Marian Fischer Boel had promised a rapid decision.
With the approval issued today, agricultural products can
be imported into the EU even if "accidental, technically unavoidable" admixtures
of the maize strains MON88017, MON89034 and 59122xNK603 are present. The upper
limit for admixtures with GM plants that have been judged as safe and approved
in the EU is 0.9%. This threshold value was established through resolutions made
by all EU member states and the EU Parliament. A GMO percentage greater than
0.9% has to be declared on the label.
However, the "Zero Tolerance" is still valid for GM
plants that have not been given approval in the EU. A range of GM plants that
have not received EU approval – predominantly different strains of GM maize –
are currently being cultivated, primarily in the USA. If agricultural imports
are found to contain such non-approved GM plants, they can not be imported into
the EU, regardless of the amount of the GM component. At present 180 000 tons of
soya beans are being held in Spain. Since through today's decision the admixed
GM maize is now approved, this consignment can be put on the market.
Because of the Zero Tolerance policy of the EU many
importers of animal feed and farmers associations fear that there could be a
bottleneck in the supply of feed, which could result in increasing prices. The
European meat production is dependent on the import of, in particular,
protein-rich animal feed.
Of the three types of GM maize that may now be imported
into the EU, one strain has been developed by Monsanto to be both herbicide and
insect resistant (MON88017), and produces a  Bt protein against the
corn
rootworm. The strain 59122xNK603 has been developed by Pioneer and has similar
characteristics. The third strain, MON89034, produces a variant of the
Bt-protein directed against other maize pests.
See also on GMO Compass:
Further information:
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