Midday Express, 29 October 2008
The European Commission adopted today a Decision authorising the use of genetically modified (GM) LLCotton25 in food and feed. The decision has been adopted following an application submitted by Germany's Bayer CropScience AG and a favourable scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which addressed all safety concerns. The assessment concluded that there is no risk to human or animal health or to the environment. The Commission's proposal on GM LLCotton25 was first submitted to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), but there the Member States did not achieve qualified majority, either for or against the proposal. As the procedure provides for, the Commission referred the issue to the Council, which had three months to act. Consequently, the proposal was considered by the Agricultural and Fisheries Council and the result of the vote there was similar to that at SCoFCAH – there was no qualified majority either for or against. In short, the Council neither adopted nor indicated its opposition to the proposed measure. Following the procedure provided by EU law, the Commission adopted today the Decision, which authorises the placing on the market of food and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from, GM LLCotton25.