Joint action of environmental organisations and scientists against decision of the EU Commission
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Munich/ Brussels
Several organisations such as the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) are filing a complaint against a decision of the EU Commission to authorise a new genetically engineered Monsanto soybean. The soybeans will be mostly sold and grown in Brazil under the brand name Intacta, the harvest will be imported to the EU for use in food and feed. The new genetically engineered soybean expresses an insecticidal protein and is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup.
Recent investigations reveal that new approvals for the cultivation of genetically engineered crops in Europe in 2012 are unlikely. The Commission returned the dossiers for three maize lines to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). MON810, Bt11 and maize 1507 have all been considered safe by EFSA numerous times. In a letter to the EU Commission, EFSA announces a new opinion on maize MON810 till December.
Munich/ Brussels, 6.7. 2012 On 27 June, without public communciation, the EU Commission authorised a genetically engineered soy with a combination of gene constructs. Soy MON87701 x MON89788 produces an insecticidal Bt protein and is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate. It is the first time that a genetically engineered soy with stacked gene constructs has been authorised in the EU for usage in food and feed. Monsanto wants to market these soybeans under the brand name „Intacta“. It will be grown and harvested in Brazil and then imported to the EU.
Munich/Parma, 25 June 2012. The revised GMO expert panel at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) still has a majority of experts in favour of using genetically engineered plants in agriculture. Testbiotech estimates that eleven of the twenty panel members have links to industry or are known as proponents of the controversial technology.
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