July 22, 2005

EU approves GM corn import and use
 

Europe's food safety regulator European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a number of GM products for use within the EU.

These products include Monsanto's MON863 x MON810 x NK603 corn for food and feed use. Similar approvals were given to three other varieties of Monsanto's GM corn¡ªMON863 x NK603, MON863 x MON810 and MON863 x MON810.

The approval, if confirmed by the EC, will allow EU food processors to import and use GM corn in their products.

The EFSA, at the same time, issued new guidelines to assist companies in having GM crops approved for farming in the EU.

Even with the EFSA approval, individual member countries can still block GM products in their markets. EU laws allow members to ban a GMO within their borders if a government can justify the prohibition.

For example, Syngenta's Bt176 maize, Monsanto's MON810 maize, Bayer's T25 maize and MS1xRF1 oilseed rape, and Topas' 19/2 oilseed rape have been approved at the European level for use as crops. But at least five states have banned the growing of these crops.