This week the EU Agriculture Council faced three separate votes on GMOs (1).  One concerned whether to uphold the Greek ban on selling EU licensed biotech maize seeds - MON 810 (2) - in Greece while the other two votes were on the EU approval of biotech maize products for food use - MON 863 (3) and GA 21 (4).

The EU Council failed to reach a qualified majority to reject the Greek Government’s temporary ban on MON 810 and also failed to reach agreement on decisions to approve foods and food ingredients produced from GM maize GA 21 and MON 863, despite positive safety assessments from EFSA – the European Food Safety Authority. 

According to Simon Barber, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Unit at EuropaBio “Neither the Greek Government nor any of the authorities have provided any validated scientific evidence to support either a ban or withholding approval to use these products in food.  Consequently it is disappointing to see the Council’s lack of support for the law especially as it is was Council that put in place the GM rules in the first place.”  

(1) Background briefing to Council meeting
http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/AgricFish_BackNote_24-25Oct.pdf

(2) MON 810 – Background and notes on approvals
MON 810 maize is genetically modified with a Bt gene, making it resistant to European Corn Borer, a major corn pest. It has been licensed in the EU for cultivation since 1998, in addition to being approved in 11 other countries outside the EU. http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php?action=Submit&evidx=9

(3) MON 863 - Background and notes on approvals
MON 863 maize is genetically modified with a Bt gene, making it resistant to a another type of insect pest, the “corn” rootworm which attacks the roots of maize plants. It has already been approved in more than 10 countries around the world, including in the US in 2003. http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php?action=Submit&evidx=85

(4) GA 21 - Background and notes on approvals
The GA21 line of maize was genetically engineered, to be tolerant of glyphosate-containing herbicides, which is designed to helps farmers with weed control. It has already been approved in 9 other countries.
http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php?action=Submit&evidx=1

EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 50 direct members operating worldwide and 25 national biotechnology associations representing some 1500 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.