Request
from the European Commission related to the
safeguard clause invoked by Hungary on maize
MON810 according to Article 23 of Directive
2001/18/EC
Question
number: EFSA-Q-2008-316
Adopted
date: 02/07/2008
Summary
Hungary
submitted to the European Commission
additional information regarding the
cultivation of genetically modified
maize MON810 to support a safeguard
measure initially notified, under
Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC, by
the Hungarian authorities on 20 January
2005 to provisionally prohibit the use
and sale of the authorised genetically
modified maize MON810 on its territory.
The European Commission received from
Hungary a written submission made of
four supporting documents.
As a consequence, the European Commission requested in a letter, dated 18 April 2008, the EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) to assess whether the information submitted by Hungary comprises information affecting the environmental risk assessment of existing information on the basis of new scientific knowledge such that detailed grounds exist to consider that the above authorised GMO, for the uses laid down in the corresponding consent, constitute a risk to the environment.
In the light of the information package provided by Hungary in support of its safeguard clause and, having considered all relevant publications, the GMO Panel concludes that, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the environment, no new scientific evidence was presented that would invalidate the previous risk assessments of genetically modified maize MON810. The GMO Panel also concludes that no new scientific data or information was provided in support of adverse effects of maize MON810 on the environment and on human and animal health in Hungary.
Therefore, no specific scientific evidences, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the environment, were provided that would justify a prohibition of use and sale of maize MON810 in Hungary.