Parma, Italy
October 29, 2008
Source:
European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) - The EFSA Journal (2008) 850, 1-45
Request from the European
Commission related to the safeguard clause invoked by France on
maize MON810 according to Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC and
the emergency measure according to Article 34 of Regulation No
1829/2003/EC - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Genetically
Modified Organisms
Question number: EFSA-Q-2008-077
Adopted date: 29/10/2008
Summary
On 9 February 2008, France notified to the European Commission
an Order suspending the cultivation of seed varieties derived
from the genetically modified maize event MON810, as well as a
safeguard measure invoked under Article 23 of Directive
2001/18/EC to provisionally prohibit the cultivation of the
authorised maize MON810 on its territory. An amendment of the
Order was further notified to the European Commission on 20
February 2008. In the meantime, on 13 February 2008, France
notified to the European Commission a note entitled ‘Emergency
measure’ under Article 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. In
this respect, the European Commission received from France a
written submission consisting of different supporting documents.
On 27 February 2008, the European Commission requested the
Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel)
of the European Food Safety Authority to assess the package of
documents supporting and justifying the French safeguard clause
and the duration of the invoked measure.
Having assessed the information package provided by France in
support of its safeguard clause and having considered all
relevant publications on the subject, the GMO Panel concludes
that, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the
environment, the provided information package does not present
new scientific evidence that would invalidate the previous risk
assessments of maize MON810. Therefore, no specific scientific
evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the
environment, was provided that would justify the invocation of a
safeguard clause under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC and an
emergency measure under Article 34 of Regulation (EC) No
1829/2003.
Opinion: Click
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