Commission Midday Express, 15 November 2011

GMOs - Member States fail to endorse proposals to authorise two GM soybean products for food and feed uses

Two proposals to authorise genetically modified (GM) soybean products were not endorsed yesterday by Member States during a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).  They will now be examined by the appeal committee set up by Regulation (EC) No. 182/2011 .

The Commission presented to SCoFCAH one proposal for the authorisation of GM soybean A5547-127 and another one on the renewal of the authorization of GM soybean 40-3-2. Both authorisations concern food and feed uses, not cultivation. The Commission tabled the proposals following applications submitted by Bayer Cropscience AG (A5547-127) and by Monsanto (40-3-2) and after favourable scientific assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which addressed all safety concerns. EFSA concluded in both opinions that these soybeans are as safe as their non-genetically modified counterparts, with respect to potential effects on human and animal health or the environment. EFSA also addressed the questions raised by Member States before delivering its scientific opinions.

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