EFSA GMO Watch – November-December 2010

News
Testbiotech released a report, European Food Safety Authority, a playing field for the biotech industry, about the role of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and its impact on the work of EFSA's GMO panel: “” (http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/431). With the work of EFSA having been under criticism from various sides in the last few weeks, the President of EFSA, Catherine Geslain-Laneelle, had to face critical questions in a hearing at the European Parliament on 30 November 2010. Amongst other matters, the role of ILSI and the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants were high on the agenda at the Parliament meeting. Testbiotech will now again address the EU Commission on this issue.

Testbiotech published its response to EFSA's statement regarding the risk assessment of maize 1507 (http://www.testbiotech.org/node/427). Testbiotech has come to the conclusion that EFSA did not address the relevant topics and hence did not fulfil the European Commission's request asking for the assessment of new scientific information which had been introduced by Testbiotech.

New opinions
EFSA released an opinion on the reassessment of the Monsanto company's roundup ready soybean (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1908.htm). It is possible to comment on this opinion until 13 January (see http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/gmo_authorisation_en.htm). Testbiotech will try to provide some more analysis within the next few weeks.

EFSA has released its final version of its guidance on the environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered plants and non target organisms (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1879.htm). Testbiotech is currently working on providing background to this guidance document.

Ongoing consultations:
EFSA is conducting consultations regarding choice of comparator for the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/gmo101115.htm) and on genetically engineered organisms used in food and feed production (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/gmo101129.htm).