Brussels, 08/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 September, the European Commission adopted a decision authorising the marketing of genetically modified soybean A2704-12, produced by Bayer CropScience AG. The authorisation of this product will remain valid for 10 years. Cultivation of this GMO will not be allowed at this stage. However, all of the food uses (foodstuffs and feeds for animals) will be authorised.
In July, EU agriculture ministers failed to reach a qualified majority decision for or against the authorisation. 12 member states (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom) voted for it to be marketed, 12 (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland and Slovenia) voted against, while Belgium, Ireland and Latvia abstained. On 10 August 2007, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave its opinion that it was “unlikely” that the marketing of products containing A2704-12 would have any harmful effect on human or animal health or on the environment. (L.C./transl.rt)