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On 9 August, several organisations such as the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) and Testbiotech filed a complaint against a decision of the EU Commission to authorise a new genetically engineered Monsanto soybean. The new genetically engineered soybean expresses an insecticidal protein and is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup. The EU gave permission for use of the soybeans in food and feed at end of June: http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/694.
In July, Testbiotech investigations revealed that new approvals for the cultivation of genetically engineered crops in Europe in 2012 are unlikely. The Commission returned the dossiers for three maize lines to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). MON810, Bt11 and maize 1507 have all been considered safe by EFSA numerous times. In a letter to the EU Commission, EFSA announced a new opinion on maize MON810 by December (http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/685).
On 18 June, EFSA published the names of the members of its revised GMO Panel. According to an analysis by Testbiotech, there's still has a majority of experts in favour of using genetically engineered plants in agriculture. Testbiotech estimates that eleven of the twenty panel members have links to industry or are known as proponents of the controversial technology. Amongst its members are some well-known experts like Gijs Kleter who worked with the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) for many years. ILSI is funded by industry and has influenced EFSA standards for the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants (http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/681).
The Ombudsman sent a reply to Testbiotech about Harry Kuiper. The reaction of Testbiotech and all other documents can be found at: http://www.testbiotech.org/en/independence.
New Opinions
On 21 June, EFSA published its long expected Opinion on soybean 40-3-2 (Roundup Ready soybean) for cultivation in the EU (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2753.htm). The GMO Panel concluded that soybean 40-3-2 “is unlikely to raise additional environmental safety concerns compared with conventional soybean, but that the management of its cultivation could result in environmental harm under certain conditions.” The Panel therefore recommends a risk mitigation plan.
Testbiotech published a comment on the EFSA opinion on soybean 40-3-2 (Roundup Ready soybean) for cultivation: http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/688.
EFSA also published an opinion on maize MIR162 for food and feed uses, import and processing. The GMO Panel concluded that maize MIR162 is “as safe as its conventional counterpart and non-GM commercial varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment in the context of its intended uses” (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2756.htm).
Testbiotech published a comment on the EFSA opinion on insect resistant maize MIR162 for food and feed uses: http://www.testbiotech.de/node/687. The maize line is marketed by Swiss company Syngenta and produces the VIP3Aa20 toxin. VIP toxins are related to the better known Bt toxins, but have a different mode of action.
New Authorisations
On 27 June, the EU Commission authorised a genetically engineered soy with a combination of gene constructs. Soybean MON87701 x MON89788 produces an insecticidal Bt protein and is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate. It is the first time that a genetically engineered soy with stacked gene constructs has been authorised in the EU for usage in food and feed: http://www.testbiotech.de/node/632.
See complaint above: http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/694
Consultations
Testbiotech filed a comment on the Opinion of EFSA on environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered animals: http://www.testbiotech.de/node/706
Other
On 19 July, an event report was published about a technical meeting between members of the EFSA GMO and BIOHAZ Panels and Austrian experts on issues related to the safeguard clause invoked by Austria for potato EH92-527-1 (Amflora) (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/317e.htm).
