Civil society organisations and companies appeal against a decision made by the German authorities
9 March 2015 – The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) issued a decision on 5 February 2015, that so-called RTDS oilseed rape manipulated with short synthetic DNA sequences (oligonucleotids) through a technology developed by CIBUS is “not a method for genetic engineering within the definition of law”. The decision means that plants made resistant to herbicides with this technology can now be grown without any further risk assessment, registration or labelling. Several civil society organisations and companies have appealed against the decision.
Europe urged to stop authorisation of genetically engineered maize for cultivation
Thursday, 5 March 2015
The European Food Safety Authority has started an investigation into the safety of growing genetically engineered maize in Europe following the publication of the biggest study on maize pollen published to date. Friends of the Earth Europe and Testbiotech have called on the EU to immediately suspend the growing of GM maize and to stop all future approvals.
Italian scientists report changes in milk and reduced body weight in kids
17 February 2015 / A recent scientific publication has reported significant impacts on the offspring of goats fed with genetically engineered soybeans. According to the publication prepared by the University of Naples (Italy), there were changes in the composition of the goats’ milk and the weight of the kids was significantly reduced. DNA sequences stemming from genetically engineered soybeans were resistant to digestion and subsequently found in the milk.
German government accused of failing to take action
Monday, 2 February 2015
Testbiotech today published a report on how the biotech and food industry are influencing risk research and decisions within the responsible German authorities. According to the analysis, even leading experts in German government agencies and institutions dealing with risk research in food safety and agricultural genetic engineering are compromised by conflicts of interest.