Brussels, 08/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - France has reacted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion, recommending that authorisation of genetically modified maize MON 810 be extended for a further 10 years (see EUROPE 9933), by calling on the Commission to comply with the unanimous desire of the Environment Council for more in-depth scientific evaluation and revision of authorisation procedures for GMO crops in the EU.
France and five other member states (Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg) have made use of the safeguard clause to provisionally ban MON 810 maize crops on their territories, on the grounds of risks to the environment.
“We are calling for the conclusions of the Council of European Environment Ministers to be complied with,” say Jean-Louis Borloo, French Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Maritime Affairs Minister, Bruno Le Maire Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, and Chantal Jouanno, Secretary of State with responsibility for Ecology, in a joint press release published on 3 July.
They note that, on 6 May, 12 member states wrote to EFSA asking for a full response in its assessment to the questions from member states on the impact of growing MON 810 (development of resistance, effect on non-targeted species). “The opinion delivered by EFSA was unable to take account of what was asked, with the methodologies in the course of being reviewed (until 2010).” The French authorities have announced that they will consult the competent national authority (AFSSA) and the High Council on Biotechnologies before deciding on the position they will adopt. (A.N./transl.rt)