Brussels, 30/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The environmental organisation, Greenpeace, announced on Monday 30 April that it had discovered traces of a non-authorised genetically modified maize in the EU that was contained in a US cargo unloaded in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. According to tests carried out by Greenpeace, the cargoes contained up to 2.4% in genetically modified maize (Herculex(r), developed by the US Dow AgroSciences LLC and Pioneer companies.
The European Commission has indicated that it has not yet been informed by the Dutch authorities about this incident. If the news is confirmed, it will be up to the Dutch authorities to send the maize back to the US, declared the spokesperson for Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for agriculture. This maize is not yet authorised in the EU, but ongoing approval procedures are being pursued. On 2 April, the European Food Authority produced a scientific opinion in favour of Herculex and experts from the 27 are expected to give their opinion on 8 June on whether to approve it being put onto the market. According to Greenpeace, “this is at least the fourth time in two years” that a non-authorised GMO has arrived on the European market.
Herculex(r), which protects maize against harmful insects, has already been approved for animal feed and imports for human consumption to a dozen countries, including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and China. (lc)