May 21, 2007

Ireland discovers unauthorised GM corn in Dublin port

European Union's prohibited genetically-modified corn has been detected in Dublin port in Ireland from the samples taken from animal feed imported from the United States.

The Department of Agriculture and Food confirmed the GM Herculex Rw corn is authorised in a number of countries including the US but still pending in application in the EU.

As part of the EU authorisation process, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the application and recently gave a favourable opinion. Brussels will give its final decision on June 8.

The EFSA said the GM corn Herculex Rw on the market will unlikely have adverse effects on human or animal health or on the environment.

The agriculture department said in a statement that 6,000 tonnes of corn gluten feed and 6,200 tonnes of distillers dried grain was loaded at the Dublin Port from the MV Pakrac, which went on to Rotterdam where it discharged the remainder of the animal feed cargo.

The department said it immediately arranged for samples to be taken from the animal feed off-loaded in Dublin. These were sent for analysis to the State Laboratory, which confirmed on May 15 that they had tested positive for Herculex Rw.

A ban was immediately imposed on the 7,000 tonnes that remained in portal stores was made and steps were taken to remove material that had left the stores from circulation.

The agriculture department said the materials have not entered the Irish feed supply and will comply with the requirements under the EU legislation.