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Scientists from the Co-Extra EU research programme have published results that prove the utility of "chloroplast transformation" for the biological containment of genetically modified crops. These results have been published in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS, and demonstrate that this method is suitable to ensure the coexistence of GM and non-GM plants.

In chloroplast transformation, the transgene is integrated in the chloroplasts of the plant cell instead of its nucleus. In some plants, chloroplasts are not inherited from the male, and therefore, transgenes in these plastids cannot be disseminated by pollen, which contains DNA from the nucleus only.

This mechanism was already known, although it was unclear to what extent it is reliable. Co-Extra researchers have now tested more than two million transgenic tobacco seedlings and found that the transgene only is inherited in fewer than 20 of 1,000,000 plants. Due to changes in the plant during maturation, even fewer plants – 3 in 1,000,000 – carry the transgene in their pollen.

Under field conditions, the number of outcrossings may be even lower, since tobacco has a high rate of self-pollination. The Co-Extra researchers stated, however, that a low incidence of outcrossing remains. Thus, the combination with additional biological containment methods is recommended if outcrossing needs to be eliminated completely, as is the case with GM crops used in the production of pharmaceuticals.

The GMO panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reconfirmed that the nptII marker gene in genetically modified plants poses no threat to human or animal health or the environment. With this conclusion, the authority has confirmed its earlier opinion in 2004.

The background of this assessment is the scenario that certain antibiotic resistance marker genes in GM foods might be taken up by bacteria in the gut during digestion. If some of those bacteria were pathogenic, it would be difficult to treat resulting infections. Antibiotic resistance marker genes are used as selective markers in the development of a few GM plants.

The EFSA GMO Panel reviewed the most recent scientific literature and concluded that such gene transfer has never been demonstrated in nature, as there are many hurdles to overcome for the DNA of a gene from ingested plant material: the DNA needs to remain intact during digestion, to be taken up by a particular bacterium through the cell wall and to become stably expressed in that bacterium.

The safety of the nptII gene has been reassessed, because the European Commission currently considers marketing approval of a new GM potato containing the nptII gene.

The EFSA GMO Panel also pointed out, that the nptII gene is only one of many mechanisms by which bacteria have developed resistance to kanamycin and other aminoglycosides and that the therapeutic value of aminoglycosides will not be compromised by the presence of the nptII gene in some GM plants, given the extremely low probability of gene transfer from plants to bacteria.

Furthermore, it would be very unlikely that the presence of the nptII gene in GM plants will change the existing widespread prevalence of this antibiotic resistance gene in natural bacterial populations already present in humans and in the environment.

Although all GM maize varieties have been approved for cultivation in the EU, the Greek government raised its total of maize bans to 47 on April 13^th by disallowing 16 additional genetically modified maize varieties. This action is based on claims that scientific research raises doubts about the crops' biosafety and, furthermore, that this research had not been considered when the crops received EU approval.

By applying the precautionary principle, Greece thus has prohibited once more the planting of any GM crops, despite their approval for commercial cultivation in the EU.

A study by the agricultural consultancy PG Economics has assessed the impact of Bt maize in seven EU countries. The result: GM crops deliver increased yields, raise farmers' income, and provide health benefits for livestock.

According to the study, average yields from Bt maize field exceeded those from conventional fields, sometimes by more than ten percent. Particularly in regions heavily affected by the European corn borer, the cultivation of Bt maize increased farmers' profit in comparison with the financial gains from conventional maize. Additional income levels reached 65 to 141 euros per hectare - equivalent to an increase in profitability of 12 to 21 percent.

The study also found that Bt maize contains lower levels of mycotoxins, poisonous products of moulds. This represents a health benefit to livestock consuming Bt maize. In 2006, 65,000 hectares of Bt maize were planted in Spain, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, and Slovakia.

The European Parliament has called for GMO traces in organic products to be limited more strictly in comparison with conventional foods. The Members of the European Parliament voted on a proposal for a regulation on organic products and stated in an amendment: "Organic farming principles, objectives and rules exclude the use and the presence of GMO in all organic processes and products. It is therefore important to adopt national and EU legislation which guarantees that contamination with GMOs does not take place."

Consumer groups and environmental organisations have welcomed the statement and have interpreted it as a call for the lowest possible thresholds for GMOs in organic products. In contrast, the European Commission favours a common threshold for conventional and organic foods of 0.9 percent GMO.

Since neither the EU regulation on organic farming nor the labelling directive for GMOs currently sets an explicit limit for the adventitious presence of GMOs in organic foods, the labelling threshold of 0.9 percent for GMOs in conventional food also has been applied to date for organic products.

In June, the Ministers of Agriculture in the European Council will decide on the new regulation. The role of the European parliament in the resolution of this issue remains purely consultative, since the Ministers' decision will be based on a proposal by the Commission.