Brussels, 26/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - Next week, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) will deliver a preliminary scientific review on the research carried out by Professor Seralini. The study created a lot of controversy when it concluded that rats suffered toxic effects when fed on Monsanto's genetically modified NK603 and that there was toxicity in Monsanto's total RoundUp herbicide to which this transgenic corn is tolerant (EUROPE 10693).
This opinion results from the analysis of an article by Seralini et al, which appeared in the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal on 19 September last. An EFSA multidisciplinary task force consisting of scientists from GMO, pesticides and scientific assessment units is currently working on this issue. On 26 September, EFSA said that if it proves necessary, the scientists might call on other external experts to help them in their task.
EFSA will subsequently invite the authors of the study to provide further details about the methodology used in the study carried out over a two-year period (including the average lifespan of a rat, which can live up to two and a half years) and which will enable it to publish in the next few weeks, a more far-reaching scientific analysis. EFSA has provided assurances that it is working in close cooperation with the member states' food safety agencies and that the question will be tackled with EU 27 representatives attending the meeting of the EFAS Advisory Forum this week. (AN/trans/fl)