Luxembourg, 28/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU27 environment ministers were to vote, on 28 June, on the Commission's proposal aimed at authorising genetically modified potatoes produced by the company BASF, but they did not have to do so in the end. The German Presidency finally withdrew this point from the Environment Council's agenda. Announcing withdrawal to the press, Sigmar Gabriel, Council President, explained that changes in the request for authorisation of this product had changed the situation. Initially, he said, the request for authorisation was foreseen for the use of this potato in chemicals, for its starch, with genetic modification allowing the quantity of water to be reduced to give better starch production. However, he went on, a further request was made in order to use this product in animal feed, meaning that a new EFSA opinion was required. The opinion stresses that the GMO can create resistance to antibiotics but neither member states nor the Commission have time, he said to study it. It was almost certain that there would not be a majority of member states for rejecting or approving the GMO, but that there would be a simple majority against authorisation. The “hot potato” will therefore be referred on to the Portuguese presidency, and not to the Commission as would have been the case if the Council had failed to take a decision. (an)