Midday Express, 7 May 2008
The Commission today adopted a decision ordering Austria to lift the safeguard clause it had placed on the import and processing of two GMOs, Zea Mays L. line MON 810 and Zea Mays Line T 25. This decision does not affect the safeguard clause on cultivation.
The two GMO maize varieties were authorised for import, processing into food and feed products and cultivation in Europe by a Commission Decision on 22 April 1998. One year later, on 2 June 1999, Austria informed the Commission that it was to provisionally prohibit the placing on the market of Zea Mays L. line MON 810 for all uses covered by the consent, and the following year it also banned the placing on the market of Zea Mays L. line MON 810 for all uses.
EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority has confirmed the safety of the products on several occasions, but the Council had failed to agree a position and the decision was therefore returned to the Commission. Today's decision therefore resolves the deadlock.