Brussels, 05/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Standing European Committee on Food is to give its stance on Monday on authorisation of genetically modified maize (BT 11), after the failure of the November meeting. As no qualified majority agreement was reached on Monday within this body, the question could be referred to the relevant European ministers of EU Member States. The meeting is crucial as approval would mean lifting the moratorium which has been observed by the EU since 1999 on imports of new GMOs, that the United States and several other of the EU's trade rivals have attacked before the WTO. Commissioner David Byrne affirmed that the evaluation of this dossier clearly indicates this technology is without risk for human and animal food.
Furthermore, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) issued two positive opinions on Thursday on the subject of the new genetically modified maize developed by the US agri-food giant, Monsanto. EFSA experts concluded that the herbicide-tolerant NK603 maize is as safe as non-GMO maize and that its market approval is not likely to cause any adverse effects on human or animal health or, in this context, on the environment.