Brussels, 20/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of EU member states meeting within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) failed, on Tuesday 20 October, to reach the qualified majority required to approve or reject the Commission's proposal to authorise genetically modified MIR 604 maize by Syngenta in the EU. The European Commission will therefore refer the matter to the Council. If the Council fails to decide one way or the other within three months, it will be up to the Commission to take the decision. The proposal for authorisation concerns the importation and processing of the maize for human food and animal feed. It follows a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which considered, after scientific evaluation, that the maize does not present a risk for human or animal health, or for the environment. (A.N./transl.jl)