24/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The French government is preparing new safeguard clause on transgenic maize MON 810 from Monsanto on the basis of fresh scientific advice from 2009 and 2010 but will await the end of February before bringing it forward “to ensure that the Commission does not have time to challenge it”, announced Environment Minister Nathalie Kocziusko Morizet on Monday 23 January. Asked by the press for a reaction, Frédéric Vincent, the spokesman for Health Consumer Affairs Commissioner John Dalli said: “We look forward to receiving this new scientific information. It takes time to be able to deliver an opinion on new scientific information as the data has to be put to the Commission then sent on to EFSA. Whether France submits it to us now or in three months' time, it is unlikely that we would have been able to take a decision”. Under current rules, the scientific information that France has to present to justify its new safeguard clause will have to relate to risks to health or the environment, he noted. The draft regulation of 2010 allowing member states to restrict or ban the cultivation of GMOs which have been authorised by the EU will allow other reasons to be cited. This proposal remains deadlocked in the Council. (AN/transl.rt)