Brussels, 17/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - As the experts of the member states failed on Monday 15 November to take a position for or against two proposed GMO authorisations within the Union, the European Union will forward these dossiers to the Council of the EU for decision.
Under the scrutiny of the Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health was the hybrid genetically modified maize MON89034xMONx88017 produced by Monsanto and destined for human and animal consumption, import and processing. The other dossier in question concerned the proposed renewal of the 10-year authorisation of the maize 1507 of the Pioneer Overseas Corporation and Dow AgroSciences, for the purposes of animal consumption, import and processing.
The experts of the member states failed to reach the qualified majority required to take position either way on these dossiers, which have the scientific blessing of EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), which took the view that neither of these GMOs represented any danger to human or animal health or the environment. It is now up to the Council of the EU to make the decision, by qualified majority. If it fails to do so, the Commission will be authorised to make the decision itself. (A.N./transl.fl)