Brussels, 23/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Once again, experts from EU member states at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) on Wednesday 22 July, were unable to reach qualified majority to authorise or reject the European Commission's proposals to authorise three varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize.
The three seeds are GM maize MON88017, GM maize MON89034 and GM maize 59122xNK603 (Pioneer). They are all insect resistant and herbicide tolerant. The request for authorisation involves imports and processing and food and feed uses. Favourable opinions for marketing these products have been granted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Procedure requires the Commission to transmit the three dossiers to the Council of Ministers of the EU, which will then have three months to reach a decision. If the EU27 ministers also fail to reach a decision, the Commission will be able to decide on its own whether or not authorisation should be granted.
Several genetically modified seeds have already been authorised for import into the EU but only one has been given this authorisation for production, MON 810 by Monsanto. Six countries (France, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg, Germany and Greece) have adopted safeguard clauses to ban the growing of MON 810 on their territory. Monsanto has requested further authorisation for producing MON810 and has obtained a favourable decision from EFSA (EUROPE 9933). (L.C./transl.rh)