Commission Midday Express, 3 May 2012
A draft decision authorising genetically modified (GM) soybean products was not endorsed yesterday by Member States during a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).The proposal will now be examined by the GM appeal committee as set up by Regulation (EC) No. 182/2011.
The proposal for the authorisation of GM soybean product, MON 87701 x MON 89788, concerns food and feed uses and not cultivation. The Commission tabled the proposal following an application submitted by Monsanto Europe S.A. and a favourable scientific assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which addressed all safety concerns surrounding this GM soybean. EFSA concluded in its opinion that this soybean is as safe as its non-genetically modified counterpart with respect to potential effects on both human and animal health and the environment. EFSA also addressed the questions raised by Member States before delivering its scientific opinion.
For more information on GM food and feed uses: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm