The European Commission today authorised the placing on the market of genetically modified maize line 1507 for use as food and food ingredients. The authorisation means that this maize type will now be allowed to be marketed in the EU as food, food ingredients or derived products, such as oil and starch. In line with EU labelling and traceability rules, any product containing it will have to clearly indicate its genetically modified nature.

The Commission’s decision follows the inability of Council on 20 December 2005 to either approve or reject the application for the authorisation of this GMO on the basis of the favourable opinion delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 3 March 2005:
http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/gmo/gm_ff_applications/more_info/503_en.html

Genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) line 1507 has been designed to resist to the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, a beetle which can cause severe damage to maize crops) and certain other pests (“lepidopteran” pests), and with tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, thus improving weedmanagement and crop production.

This is the first authorisation given under Regulation 1829/2003 on GM Food and Feed. This new legislation introduces key new elements such as improved labelling rules, a method of detection and unique identifier codes for the authorised GMOs.

Further info: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm and the Questions and Answers on the regulation of GMOs in the EU MEMO/04/102