Brussels, 05/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - At a time when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is discrediting the scientific paper by Professor Seralini on long term toxicity in rats of the genetically engineered maize NK603 and the total weed-killer RoundUp of Monsanto (see EUROPE 10703), voices are again being raised in a call for transparency and for independence in European scientific expertise. In response to EFSA's approach, Gilles-Eric Seralini himself immediately retorted by saying that he could not see why he should forward all his work to EFSA which, itself, does not divulge the scientific elements underpinning its decisions for GMO authorisation (see EUROPE 10693).
MEP Marc Tarabella (PES, Belgium) took the view that EFSA's rejection of the Seralini paper has, at the end of the day, only cast more doubt on GMOS and also on the scientific world. He said he calls more than ever before for studies on GMOs to be conceived and carried out by European bodies that are totally independent so that it is known whether 500 million European consumers are being poisoned on a daily basis or whether all this polemic is for nothing. In his view, Europe must take matters in hand, and the European Commission in particular, through EFSA. Tarabella went on to say that they are entitled to expect neutrality, integrity and also total reliability from a body that has the food safety of half a billion people in its hands. However, he added, EFSA's ridiculously low budget must be reviewed so that it can fulfil its role. (AN/transl.jl)