Following a review of
scientific information provided by EU Member State Greece
and a meeting with Greek experts in July 2006, EFSA has
found no new evidence that would change the risk assessment
of MON810 maize which currently has marketing consent in the
EU. The EFSA GMO Panel also found that there was
insufficient scientific evidence that the environment or
ecology of Greece was different from other regions in the EU
to merit separate risk assessments in addition to those
already conducted in other EU regions.
In conclusion:
- there is no new data
that would invalidate the initial risk assessment
conducted on MON810 maize established under Directive
90/220/EEC or Directive 2001/18/EC,
- there is no specific
scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human health
and the environment, that would justify a prohibition of
cultivation of the MON810 maize authorised under
Directive 90/220/EEC or Directive 2001/18/EC in Greece.
EFSA’s GMO Panel reviewed
the available data on molecular characterisation, food and
feed safety together with available data on environmental
impact. The GMO Panel also reviewed new literature on
CRY1Ab-expressing maize.
SCP, 1998. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants
regarding the genetically modified, insect resistant maize
lines notified by the Monsanto Company (Notification
C/F/95/12/02).
http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scp/out02_en.html
EFSA MON810 Assessments to date
- Opinion adopted on 6
July 2005 (Question No EFSA-Q-2004-086) - Opinion of the
GMO Panel on an application (Reference EFSA GMO BE 2004
07) for the placing on the market of insect-protected
glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified maize MON863 x
MON810 x NK603, for food and feed uses, and import and
processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from
Monsanto
- Opinion adopted on 13
October 2006 (Question No EFSA-Q-2004-086) - Opinion of
the Scientific Panel GMO on an application (Reference
EFSA-GMO-UK-2004-01) for the placing on the market of
glyphosate-tolerant and insect-resistant genetically
modified maize NK603 x MON810, for food and feed uses
under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto
- Opinion adopted on 6
July 2005 (Question No EFSA-Q-2004-154) - Opinion of the
GMO Panel on an application (Reference EFSA GMO UK 2004
06) for the placing on the market of insect-protected
glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified maize MON863 x
NK603, for food and feed uses, and import and processing
under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto
- Opinion adopted on 13
October 2005 (Question No EFSA-Q-2005-056) - Opinion of
the Scientific Panel GMO related to genetically modified
crops (Bt176 maize, MON810 maize, T25 maize, Topas 19/2
oilseed rape and Ms1xRf1 oilseed rape) subject to
safeguard clauses invoked according to Article 16 of
Directive 90/220/EEC
SUMMARY
On 29 March 2006, Greece
invoked Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC and Article 18 of
Directive 2002/53/EC (safeguard clause) to provisionally
prohibit the cultivation of the authorised genetically
modified maize MON810 on its territory. The European
Commission received from Greece a written submission,
composed of a scientific report, listing detailed reasons
for supporting measures taken by Greece, and of 71
publications and statements.
As a consequence, the European Commission requested in a
letter dated 4 May, 2006 a scientific opinion as to whether
the scientific report and publications submitted by the
Greek authorities show that there is an imminent danger for
human health and the environment due to the cultivation of
the maize varieties with the genetic modification MON810
expressing CRY1Ab protein.
Following investigation of the evidences presented in the
Greek submission, EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) concludes that, in terms of
risk to human health and the environment, no new scientific
evidence was presented that would invalidate the risk
assessment of genetically modified maize MON810 established
under Directive 90/220/EEC (repealed by Directive 2001/18/EC
from 17 October 2002). The GMO Panel concluded that MON810
maize is unlikely to have adverse effects on human and
animal health or on the environment due to the cultivation
of the maize varieties with the genetic modification MON810
in Greece.
OPINION
Click
HERE for Opinion in PDF format.
[1] For citation purposes:
Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified
Organisms on a request from the Commission related to the
safeguard clause invoked by Greece according to Article 23
of Directive 2001/18/EC and to Article 18 of Directive
2002/53/EC, The EFSA Journal (2006) 411, 1-26.
