EFSA GMO Watch

News:
EFSA and the Commission invited to hearings on risk assessment of genetically engineered plants as well as on the choice of the comparator. Testbiotech was amongst the speakers. Documented at http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/event/gmo110331.htm

Our homepage has documentation of all docs filed by Testbiotech on EFSA's guidance within the last few months http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/467

Testbiotech also signed a joint letter from several NGOs being sent to the Commission (http://www.testbiotech.de/node/500)

Testbiotech wrote letter to the Euoropean Commission urging market authorisation not be given for new applications such as a Bt maize with a triple stack (MON 89034 × MON 88017 by Monsanto), cotton GHB614 (Bayer) as well as maize 1507 (Pioneer). All applications are for import. (http://www.testbiotech.de/node/501)
see also: http://www.testbiotech.org/node/458

On request of the European Parliament, the Commission asked the European Court of Auditors to come up with a report on EU agencies:
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/european-court-of-auditors...

New opinions:
EFSA did release a new opinion Bayer´s herbicide resistant soy http://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/efsajournal/pub/2147.htm

Ongoing consultations:
EFSA started a new process for consultation on post market monitoring of genetically engineered plants:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/gmo110418.htm?WT.mc_id=E...
The consultation will close on 22 May.

Others:
The GMO panel was asked by the EU Commission to assess new genetic engineering tools like Zink Finger Nuclease Technology (ZFN), Cisgenesis or Synthetic Biology (EFSA mandate M-2011-0062, accessible in the EFSA Register of Questions: http://registerofquestions.efsa.europa.eu/roqFrontend/questionsList.jsf). EFSA will deliver opinions on the question „whether new guidance is needed and what the risks are of the different techniques in terms of food and feed safety and the environment.“

EFSA published first practical guidance for assessing nano applications in food & feed:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/sc110510.htm

EFSA published a technical report of the “Annual report the EFSA Scientific Network for Risk Assessment of GMOs” http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/143e.pdf