Brussels, 27/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - 17 genetically engineered organisms used in human food and animal feed will soon be legally allowed to be imported into the EU over a ten-year period. Testbiotech expressed its concern that the European Commission has never authorised so many genetically modified organisms in the EU as on this occasion. It intends to contest these authorisation decisions made on Friday 24 April (see EUROPE 1130 and has a six-week timeframe to do so).
This German NGO is concerned by the insufficient risk assessments. The NGO promotes independent and ethical biotech research and announced its intentions in this connection on Monday 27 April.
Christoph Then from Testbiotech explained: “The risks of the genetically engineered plants are not investigated sufficiently and the combinatorial risks factors of these plants if mixed in a diet have not been assessed at all. Neglecting to properly assess the risks of genetically engineered plants coupled with mass-authorisation is increasing risks and uncertainties in the food chain”.
The uncertainties Testbiotech is expected to highlight include the fact that: 7 out of the newly authorised plants have been engineered to be resistant to herbicides, although the residues from spraying and their combinatorial effects were ignored; 3 of the soybeans have a changed oil composition, with some claiming benefits to health but the real impact on human or animal health has never been tested; maize was genetically engineered to be more tolerant to drought conditions, but there seems to be no advantage in comparison with similar maize varieties derived from conventional breeding. There are particular uncertainties regarding its risks because the gene, which originates from bacteria, makes it difficult to predict unintended side effects, explains Testbiotech. These maize plants also inherit antibiotic resistance marker genes, which according to EU regulations should be avoided. Testbiotech is especially critical of the market authorisation for the genetically engineered oilseed rape produced by Monsanto, which is likely to spread uncontrollably into the environment due to transport spillage.
Although experts from several EU Member States have also criticised the deficiencies in EU risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EU Commission ignored this criticism in its decision making process and suggested new regulations that would allow each member state to opt out and ban the import of genetically engineered plants. They would not, however, be allowed to use arguments such as health risks to justify their decision. Consequently, “it would be almost impossible to defend such national bans against legal challenges”, asserts Testbiotech.
Testbiotech is planning to file a complaint against the decision made by the EU Commission. The organisation has already filed similar complaints in three cases, one of which is pending at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Testbiotech contested the decision to authorise a new variety of genetically engineered soya by Monsanto, which is sold and grown in Brazil under the trade name Intacta but which was due to be imported into the EU for animal feed and human food. This soya produces an insecticide protein and is herbicide resistant. (Aminata Niang)