EU gives first approval since 1998 for cultivation of a GM crop

At the same time the Commission edged closer to allowing individual member states more choice on whether to grow GM crops or not, and gave the go-ahead for marketing of feed and feed products from three GM maize plants, but said the crops cannot be grown in Europe.

The approval of Amflora is the first granted to a GM crop since 1998. The glacial pace of approvals is highlighted by the fact that a further 17 products are held up in the approval process for cultivation, while 44 products are awaiting authorisation for food and/or for import and processing in the EU.

Announcing the approvals, Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner, John Dalli said, “Responsible innovation will be my guiding principle when dealing with innovative technologies. After an extensive and thorough review of the five pending GM files, it became clear to me that there were no new scientific issues that merited further assessment.”

Dalli added that all scientific issues, particularly those concerning safety, had been fully addressed. “Any delay would have simply been unjustified,” he said.

The industry body EuropaBio welcomed the Commission’s decision. “We feel encouraged by this decisive regulatory approach” said Willy De Greef, Secretary General. “Today’s approvals represent a step in the right direction and a return to science-based decision making. It offers the necessary predictability to industry, and also to the general public regarding the development of a technology that has much to offer to Europeans as a whole.”   

The approvals are based on a series of favourable safety assessments carried out over the years by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

In parallel, Dalli said he is launching a study of how to combine a European authorisation system with the freedom of Member States to decide whether or not to allow the cultivation of GM crops.

Dalli was responding to political guidelines set out by President Barroso in September 2009, calling for a proposal by this summer on how a GM authorisation system, based on science, can be combined with freedom for Member States to decide whether or not they wish to cultivate GM crops on their territory.

The Amflora GM potato is to be used for the production of starch for industrial applications, such paper production. The Commission said this will optimise the production process and save on raw materials, energy, water and oil-based chemicals.

There are strict cultivation conditions to prevent the possibility of GM potatoes remaining in the fields after harvest, and to ensure that Amflora seed will not be inadvertently disseminated into the wider environment.

For more information, see: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm