The European Commission has circulated today to the Member States two notifications under the Novel Food Regulation (EC) N° 258/97.

The notifications inform Member States that in accordance with the Novel Food Regulation two cottonseed oils derived from GM cotton lines are placed on the EU market. These processed cottonseed oils are indistinguishable from conventional cottonseed oils and can therefore be considered as being substantially equivalent to conventional cottonseed oils with respect to composition, nutritional value, metabolism, intended use and the level of undesirable substances that they contain.

The UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has delivered a favourable opinion after thorough evaluation of their equivalency as specified in Article 3.4 of the Novel Food Regulation. The two oils do not contain any transgenic DNA or protein and will therefore be labelled as being derived from a GMO as soon as the proposed Regulation on GM food and GM feed enters into force. This proposal which specifies detailed labelling rules is awaiting second reading in the European Parliament.

GM cotton as such is not grown in the EU nor can it be imported for cultivation or processing.