EFSA GMO Watch – July 2011

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
The Commission gave market access to three applications for food and feed
  • MON 89034 × MON 88017 (a Monsanto genetically engineered maize producing several bt toxins, amongst those also a synthetic form of an Bt toxin, and tolerance to glyphosate).
  • Cotton GHB614 (Bayer, herbicide tolerance to glufosinate)
  • Maize DAS1507 (Dow AgroSciences/ Pioneer, producing insecticidal toxin Cry1F and PAT for tolerance to pesticide glufosinate)
Testbiotech published a short analysis of these three crops in March 2011 (http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/458) and is now considering the next steps to be taken. Testbiotech presented a detailed study on risk assessment of SmartStax. It shows that both EFSA and corporations try to undermine sound risk assessments on food and feed from this genetically engineered crop, which produces six insecticidal proteins and is tolerant against two herbicides (http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/517). French scientists published a review on animal feeding studies, asking for higher standards in risk assessment and pointing to indications for signs of toxicity in liver and kidney in mammals. The report by Gilles-Eric Séralini et al is published in Environmental Sciences Europe (2011, 23, 10-20): http://www.enveurope.com/content/23/1/10

New opinions

EFSA adopted new opinions for food and feed on
  • Soja MON87701 (Monsanto company, producing the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac)
  • Soja 356043 (Pioneer, herbicide tolerance to glyphosate and ALS-inhibiting herbicides)
Both opinions have so far not been published. According to a letter from the EU Commission dated 5 July 2011 (Register of Questions: http://registerofquestions.efsa.europa.eu/roqFrontend/questionsListLoade..., search for M-2010-0520, Update of the Environmental Risk Assessment of the GMO Panel on the GM maize 1507 for cultivation), new opinions on cultivation can be expected within the next few months on the following crops
  • 40-3-2 soybean (Monsanto, herbicide tolerance to glyphosate)
  • MON88017 maize (Monsanto, insecticidal protein Cry3Bb1 and herbicide tolerance to glyphosate)
  • H7-1 sugar beet (Monsanto and KWS, herbicide tolerance to glyphosate)
Also according to this letter, EFSA is working on a final version of opinions concerning applications for the cultivation of Bt11, DAS1507 as well as on monitoring reports for MON810 and Amflora, with taking into account of new Guidance of EFSA of post marketing monitoring (PMEM). It appears that these opinions might be expected within the next two months.