Archived press release

EU Decision on GM Maize

16 February 2004

Europe's five year moratorium on new GM products could come to an end on Wednesday (18th February) when experts meet to vote on approval of Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) maize for import as a food. Britain will be represented at the meeting by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). If given the go-ahead, it will be the first GM food to be approved under the new GMO directive [2] and the first GMO approval in Europe since October 1998. Friends of the Earth is urging the FSA to put public safety first and reject the application as the product's long-term health effects have not been investigated.

Representatives from the FSA will join civil servants from member states to discuss the application from US-based Monsanto at a European Regulatory Committee meeting [1]. It is likely to vote for the GM maize despite consumer concerns about the technology and gaps in the safety studies. The FSA has a remit "to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food". The GM maize has been modified to tolerate Monsanto's own herbicide, called Round Up. The application is for import and not for cultivation in Europe.

Since 1998 the EU has introduced new regulations to improve the approvals process, tighten GM food labelling and traceability, and has established the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA issued a positive opinion for the GM maize in December 2003. But Friends of the Earth has written to FSA Chair Sir John Krebs [3] detailing concerns that EFSA:

• failed to look at the grain's effects on subsequent generations, cumulative toxic effects and the effects on the health of sensitive consumers as required under EU food law [4]
• disregarded concern about unexpected discoveries occurring after the genetic modification [5]
• insufficiently investigated the possibility of the modification causing more allergies [6]

Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow said:

"It is irresponsible and premature to give this maize the go-ahead before the new GM labelling laws come into force and the serious safety concerns are fully investigated. UK consumers have made it clear that they do not want GM foods. Supermarkets have responded and removed GM ingredients from their own brands. The FSA must now look at the gaps in the safety studies, listen to consumers and reject this GM maize."

Last time the FSA voted on an application to import a GMO, it voted to approve Syngenta's GM sweetcorn (Bt11) despite concerns about its safety. The approval was not granted as a qualified majority vote was not achieved. This decision will now be made by the Council of Ministers.

Notes

[1] Committee on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment (Directive 2001/18/EC)

[2] The Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC

[3] Letter available from Friends of the Earth

[4] Article 14(4) of Regulation 178/2002

[5] The EFSA failed to fully investigate unexpected sequences discovered in the genome after the modification. Research shows that such sequences could shut down neighbouring genes.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust