1 July 2014. Although an EU Commission decision on the cultivation of genetically engineered maize 1507 has been expected for several months, it has still not been published. In the meantime, new information has become available indicating that the biotech industry is pulling out of the cultivation of transgenic crops in the EU. According to Testbiotech investigations, US companies have just recently quietly withdrawn four EU applications for the cultivation genetically engineered plants.
German government urged to take action to stop the flow of transgenes into the environment
Thursday, 26 June 2014
In a letter addressed to the German government, ten organisations are warning that genetically modified rapeseed could spread uncontrollably throughout the EU. The letter voices concern about a current European Food Safety Authority EFSA opinion, which argues in favour of an EU import approval for Monsanto's rapeseed MON88302. The glyphosate-resistant plant is to be imported in the form of viable seeds and, in Europe, will only be processed into feed.
Recent EFSA opinions on genetically engineered plants under fire
23 June 2014 Testbiotech has heavily criticised the standards applied in the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). One reason for this is an application made by Monsanto for a new variety of genetically engineered soybeans. The US company is trying to get EU market authorisation for its new genetically engineered soybean MON87769, which it claims has a positive effect on health because of omega-3 fatty acids contained in the oil.
In a letter to the EU Commission, Testbiotech is once more asking for the market authorisation of genetically engineered maize 1507 to be stopped. The reason for this letter is a statement received from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concerning two Testbiotech reports. In its statement, EFSA fails to invalidate the crucial points raised by Testbiotech. The authority defends its own risk assessment but cannot disprove the substantial lack of relevant and sufficiently reliable data.
English
Deutsch
