EFSA GMO Watch September/ October 2011

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News

EFSA will hold a workshop on independence and scientific decision making process on 12. October 2011 in Brussels: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/event/111012.htm Testbiotech filed input for this topic http://www.testbiotech.de/node/546 and will also participate in the workshop.

Friends of the Earth and Testbiotech filed input to draft Guidance of EFSA for risk assessment on food derived from genetically engineered animals http://www.testbiotech.de/node/540

Testbiotech expertise was used in a recent report published in Germany that gives an overview on current deficiencies of risk assessment carried out by EFSA (available in German language only): http://www.boelw.de/uploads/media/pdf/Themen/Gentechnik/Studie_Risiken_m...

According to communications between EFSA and the EU Commission EFSA's final opinion with regards the market authorisation of maize 1507 and Bt11 for cultivation is now expected at the end of November (letter available upon request).

New opinions and guidance

EFSA published its opinions for food and feed on

  • Sub-combinations of the stacked maize 89034x1507xNK603 (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2377.pdf). EFSA prepared this opinion upon request of the EU Commission. EFSA?s GMO panel did not ask the applicants for any new empirical investigations but simply assumed that it would be unlikely that risks are posed by any of the sub-combinations.
  • Cotton MON531, renewal of the use in food and feed (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2373.pdf). Despite the fact that this crop inherits a gene for antibiotic resistance, the opinion is in favour of the renewal. Possible interactivity between the Bt toxin (Cry1Ac) as produced in the plant and other Bt toxin that might occur by mixtures in feed were not investigated. Recent literature that indicates negative health effects of Cry1Ac in genetically engineered plants (Gallagher 2010, see http://www.testbiotech.de/node/444) were not taken into account. Deadline for comments is 21. October, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/gmo_authorisation_en.htm