December 28, 2017

6 new GMOs approved for food, feed uses in EU

The European Commission (EC) has authorised six genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for use in food and feeds in the EU.

The GMOs were identified as Soybean 305423 x 40-3-2, Soybean DAS-44406-6, Soybean FG72 x A5547-127, Soybean DAS-68416-4, Oilseed rape MON88302 x Ms8 x Rf3 and the renewal of Maize 1507.

The GMOs, approved on Dec. 22, have all gone through a comprehensive authorisation procedure including a favourable scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EC said.

The authorisation decisions do not cover cultivation on EU territory. In late 2015, the European Parliament rejected a draft law that would enable any EU member state to restrict or prohibit the sale and use of EU-approved GM food or feed.

The EU, however, allows its 28 member states extra powers to ban the cultivation of GM crops in their respective territories even if these have been approved by the European Food Safety Authority.

These newly approved GMOs had received "no opinion" votes from the member states both in the standing and the appeal committees and the EC therefore had to adopt the pending decisions.

The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any products produced from these GMOs will be subject to the EU's strict labelling and traceability rules. --Rick Alberto