MON88017 for food/feed

On 30. October 2009, the EU Commission authorised maize MON88017 for import and processing in the EU. Food and feed products containing, consisting of, or produced from maize MON88017 can now be legally brought to market till 2019.

On 20 October 2009, the Agriculture/Fisheries Council discussed the draft Commission Decision authorising the placing on the market of maize MON88017. The Council noted the absence of the qualified majority necessary to reach a decision in favour of or against the Commission proposal.

On 22 July 2009, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFAH) discussed a draft Commission Decision authorising the placing on the market of maize MON88017. The Committee delivered no opinion: 14 Member States (167 votes) voted in favour, 8 Member States (80 votes) voted against, 4 Member States (94 votes) abstained and one Member State was not represented (4 votes). The considerations mentioned by Member States as reasons for not supporting the draft Decision include: the EFSA opinion is not considered as fully satisfactory; the need for toxicological long term studies; the negative public opinion with respect to GMO. The delegation of Austria provided a written declaration. Austria objects the placing on the market of maize MON88017, because "the risk assessment which has been carried out lacks a lot of data and is not suitable to give a scientific proof for the safety for human and animal health as well as the environment. This concerns particularly compositional analysis and the intended monitoring plan."

On 6 May 2009, the EFSA GMO-panel gave a favourable opinion and concluded that it is unlikely that the placing on the market of the products containing, consisting of, or produced from MON 88017 maize as described in the application will have any adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended uses.