News Release
David Byrne
No. 148/04
October 26, 2004
EU COMMISSION APPROVES LATEST IN SERIES OF GMO PRODUCTS
The European Commission today authorized
the placing on the market of foods and food ingredients derived from genetically
modified maize line NK603 in accordance with the GM
Food and Feed Regulation. NK603 maize has already
been approved for import and for use as animal feed and for industrial processing
under Directive
2001/18/EC.
With both approvals in place, it is now possible to place on the market NK603
maize and derived products such as starch, oil, maize gluten feed and maize meal
for food and feed use. However, the crop will be grown and harvested outside the
EU.
In line with the new EU legislation on labeling,
the maize and any product containing it will have to show clearly that it has
been genetically modified. The Commission took the decision to authorize NK603
following the failure of the Council either to approve or reject the Commission
proposal for authorization.
David Byrne,
the Commissioner responsible for Health
and Consumer Protection, said: "During my time as Commissioner, we
put in place a clear and strict system for the authorization and labeling of GMOs,
based on clear scientific advice. We are now seeing the system work in practice.
The clear labeling system guarantees consumers what they have asked for: the information
they need so that they can choose whether or not to buy any genetically modified
products."
NK603 maize has been modified to make the maize tolerant to the herbicide glyphosphate.
This improves weed control and thereby the cultivation of maize. The authorization
of NK603 maize for food use is valid immediately and will stay valid for 10 years.
It results from an application submitted by the company Monsanto. NK603 maize
has undergone a thorough safety assessment on the basis of international guidelines
for any adverse impact on public health. It has been assigned a unique identifier
and a validated detection method in order to allow labeling and traceability according
to the new EU rules.
The EU has one of the most stringent safety systems for GMOs. Each authorization
is granted on its own merits and requests for authorizations which do not fulfill
all criteria have been and will continue to be rejected.
Further information:
See the website of DG Health and Consumer Protection: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm
Questions and Answers on the regulation of GMOs in the EU: MEMO/04/102
