October 1, 2008

The Commission will transmit to the Council a proposal to authorise Monsanto's RoundupReady2 after Member States failed to endorse during a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).

The Commission presented to SCoFCAH the proposal for the authorisation of GM soy MON89788, also known as "RoundupReady2" soy, for import and processing and food and feed uses.

Member States returned no definitive opinion during the SCoFCAH meeting.

The Commission tabled the proposal following an from Monsanto and a favourable scientific assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which addressed all safety concerns.

The inconclusive vote meant the Commission will now transmit the dossier to the Council for a decision.

If the Council does not reach a position within three months, the proposal will be sent back to the Commission for final adoption.