EU authorises genetically modified maize and sugar beet
Maize photo
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for genetically modified strains of maize and sugar beet to enter the European market.
The EU's executive arm took the decision as the 27 member states had failed to agree whether to back or ban the GMO crops.
The introduction of the sugar beet and three strains of maize into the food and feed markets, brings to 15 the number of GMO items authorised for use, though not cultivation, throughout the EU.
Where there is no agreement on such cases among the member states the Commission is empowered to take the decision in line with scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
"All of the GMOs received positive safety assessments from EFSA and underwent the full authorisation procedure set out under EU legislation," the Commission said in a statement.
The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any products from the GMOs are subject to the EU's labelling and traceability rules.
Among the GMO maize varieties given the green light is the Herculex strain, developed by DuPont businesses, which is genetically modified to produce an insecticide and resist a disease which can ravage crops.
"Today's approval is encouraging and we look forward to continued progress in the EU biotech approval process," Dean Oestreich, vice president of US DuPont, said in a statement.
"We urge the Commission to ensure similar treatment for cultivation applications so that Europe's farmers can enjoy the same benefits as millions of other farmers around the world," he added.
The maize was the centre of a fierce debate earlier in the year after its illegal presence was discovered in Rotterdam in a cereal shipment from the United States, where it had already been authorised.
In all 15 GMO products have been authorised in the European Union since a moratorium was lifted in 2004 after the adoption of new rules on labelling and traceability.
While these products have been authorised for import and sale, so far no GMO crops can be grown on a commercial basis in the 27 member states.
A Commission decision is pending on the growing of a genetically modified potato.
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