EFSA sees no reason to safeguard against MON863

MON863 produces a Bt toxin against corn root worm and other Coleoptera. It was granted approval for feed/food imports into the EU in 2005/06. On 16 July 2008, Austria invoked the safeguard clause (Article 23) of Directive 2001/18 to ban the import of MON863 maize.

After Austria submitted information on why it had evoked the safeguard measure under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC on maize MON863, the EU Commission requested that the GMO panel would hold a meeting with Austrian scientists and representatives from the Competent Authority to present their arguments. It was scheduled on 23 of April 2009.
In its report from 15 June 2009, the GMO panel came to the conclusion that there was no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the environment, that would justify the invocation of a safeguard clause.