EFSA green light on Monsanto GM maize sets up new clash between Commission and member states

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EFSA green light on Monsanto GM maize sets up new clash between Commission and member states
Author: Greenpeace
Published on Jun 30, 2009 - 7:44:31 AM

BRUSSELS, June 30, 2009 - The European Commission and EU member states are set to clash as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is today expected to publish an opinion on the re-authorisation of Monsanto's MON810 genetically modified (GM) maize, Greenpeace said today. Twelve EU countries have recently expressed their concerns on the safety of the GM maize and six member states have banned the cultivation of the GM crop on their soil. [1]

"Once again EFSA has buried its head in the sand and ignored scientific evidence on the negative effects of Monsanto's pesticide-producing GM maize on the environment. The Commission's blind reliance on EFSA's flawed opinions is likely to anger member states who feel scientific concerns on GM maize are not being addressed seriously," said Marco Contiero, Greenpeace EU GMO policy director.

Independent scientists have complained of serious flaws in the application dossier submitted by Monsanto and about the quality of EFSA's work.[2] In an unprecedented move in May, 18 ministers from 12 EU countries sent EFSA a letter explaining scientific concerns linked to the unintended effects of MON810 on insects species.[3] The opinion published by EFSA today shows no evidence that these concerns were seriously taken into account.

In December 2008, EU environment ministers unanimously called for a review of the authorisation process for GM crops and substantial improvement in the way EFSA assesses the impact of GM crops on the environment and our health. EFSA itself acknowledges that it is currently not in a position to assess the long-term environmental effects of GM crops, as required by EU law. The Commission has given EFSA until April 2010 to improve its capacity to assess long term impacts.

"How can EFSA come up with a positive opinion on MON810 when it has publicly recognised its inability to determine the long term impacts of GM crops? Allowing EFSA to express opinions on GM crops while it cannot assess long term environmental impacts is like allowing someone into a Formula 1 race just because they have a driving licence," said Contiero.

Greenpeace calls on the European Commission to take account of existing scientific evidence on the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of Monsanto's MON810 maize. No GM crop should be authorised until the EU risk assessment process is thoroughly improved and EFSA is equipped to assess the full impact of GM crops.

NOTES

[1] Austria, Hungary, France, Greece, Luxembourg and Germany have invoked the safeguard clause and have forbidden the cultivation of MON810 maize. In March, 22 member states rejected the Commission's request to abolish existing MON810 bans in Austria and Hungary.

[2] For a list of peer-reviewed scientific studies on environmental impacts, go to: www.greenpeace.to/publications/Bt-maize-in-Europe-2009.pdf

[3] Last week, 11 EU countries also called on environment ministers to recognise the right to ban the cultivation of GMOs on their territory because of environmental concerns.