UK assesses a GM maize variety as safe for processing and animal feed

The UK Government has confirmed today to the European Commission that it has assessed an application by Monsanto for the importation of a variety of genetically modified hybrid maize for processing, for example into animal feed, as complying with EU requirements.

This assessment reflects legal obligations under EC law and the advice from the Government's independent advisers, ACRE (the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment). The application and the UK's assessment will now be studied by other EU Member States before

a collective decision is made. Consent, if granted, would not

permit cultivation of the maize in the EU nor, without separate approval, could it be used in human food. Four other varieties of GM maize already have approval, dating back to 1997-98.

Under the EC Directive 2001/18, all applications to import or cultivate GM crops are initially assessed by the government to which they are originally submitted. Accordingly, the UK has assessed this application against the safety and other requirements of the Directive. It is now sending its assessment to the EU for the next stage scrutiny where all Member States have 60 days to comment.

Unanimous agreement is required for a decision or the application is referred on to the regulatory committee for the next stage of EU discussion. In forwarding the application the Government is insisting, if consent is subsequently given by the EU for import, that for the purpose of post market monitoring detailed arrangements for general surveillance are provided. Any consent would be subject to strict requirements on traceability and labelling set out in new EU Regulations.

The Government has been advised by ACRE that the maize:

"Does not pose a risk to human health or the environment. The marketing of this product for importation and processing in the UK will be no different from that of other maize imported for processing and animal feed purposes. In coming to this conclusion ACRE have taken account of the advice of the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF). ACRE also recommends that consent should be conditional on the notifier providing detailed arrangements for general surveillance of this product. Post Market Monitoring reports should be provided to the regulatory authorities on an annual basis."

Environment and Agri-Environment Minister Elliot Morley commented:

"In line with current EU legislation, we have completed assessment of this specific application on the basis of the scientific evidence.

The UK's independent Advisory Committee has no safety concerns with this application. Other Member States will now undertake similar assessments. If consent is then granted, we would insist, as advised by ACRE, on more stringent post-market monitoring reporting requirements.

Everyone will be able to make individual choices about GM food because products containing GM ingredients will be labelled."