Food Law News - UK - 1997

17 February 1997: NOVEL FOODS - Government Clearance for New Lines of Genetically Modified Maize


ACNFP Press Release, 17 February 1997

Government Clearance for New Lines of Genetically Modified Maize

The Government has accepted advice from the Advisory Committee on novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) and cleared four lines of genetically modified maize for use in processed food products and as unprocessed grain in animal feed. Two of the lines are resistant to the European corn borer insect pest, one is tolerant to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide, and the other is both insect and herbicide tolerant.

In its food and feed safety assessment the ACNFP concluded that the composition of grain from the GM maize did not differ significantly from conventionally bred maize. The ACNFP was also satisfied that none of the gene products from the introduced genes were present in the processed maize.

The Food Advisory Committee (FAC) recommended that there is no need for any special labelling in this case, but encouraged the provision of information on a voluntary basis in response to public interest.

Copies of the four ACNFP reports on processed products from genetically modified (GM) maize are available free of charge from the ACNFP Administrative Secretariat, MAFF, Room 239c, Ergon House c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.


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