On Tuesday 4 July, the European Commission authorised two hybrid transgenic cottons, two hybrid transgenic maize plants and renewed the approval for a period of ten years of genetically modified maize MON 810 by Monsanto, the only GMO that thus far can be grown in the EU. The GMOs are for food/feed uses.
The GMOs are: cotton 281-24-236 x 3006-210-23 x MON 88913; cotton GHB 119 which is resistant to ammonium glufosinate-based pesticides; maize Bt11 × 59122 × MIR604 × 1507 × GA21; and maize DAS-40278-9 which is resistant to the herbicide 2 4 D.
For all of these GMOs, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a favourable opinion but the EU member states failed to gather the qualified majority required to either approve or reject their authorisation. The European Parliament, on the other hand, voted against authorisation for public health and environmental protection reasons (see EUROPE 11790 and 11781), (and also EUROPE 11771 and 11640).
The Parliamentary votes of objection were not legally binding so the decision fell to the Commission which decided, as is its wont, to press ahead with approval.
The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any products produced from these GMOs will be subject to the EU's labelling and traceability rules under Regulation 1829/2003 EC on genetically modified food and feed. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)