September 7, 2005

EC faces allegations that safety of approved GM rapeseed questionable

The European Commission (EC) has faced allegations from environmental organisation Greenpeace, that allowing a GM rapeseed from Monsanto to be sold in Europe was questionable due to safety concerns.

The rapeseed, known as GT73, was resistant to Monsanto's super weed-killer technology "Roundup" and was reportedly spread widely across North America.

In June this year, the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives reportedly said Roundup damaged human placental cells at exposure levels ten times lower than what Monsanto had claimed was safe.

Environmental groups claimed the GM rapeseed GT73 was as "toxic" as Roundup, and alleged that Monsanto and the EC deliberately withheld a study on the effects of GT products on animal health.

In response, the EC claimed that all tests were accountable and made by various scientific groups independent from one another. Also, the tests proved GT73 was harmless to people, animals and the environment.

In addition, the EC had approved the introduction of GT73 in Europe based on recommendations from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).