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Food Focus August 2007

EFSA finds no new safety concerns over genetically modified corn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that its re-analysis of a study where rats were fed the genetically modified corn MON 863 does not raise any new safety concerns.

The EFSA Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Panel concluded in 2004 that the MON 863 corn would not have an adverse effect on human and animal health or the environment in the context of its proposed use.

Since then, two scientific papers dealing with the 90- day feeding study have been published, one of which stated ‘with the present data it cannot be concluded that GM corn MON 863 is a safe product’. The European Commission asked EFSA in March 2007 to consider what impact the latest re-analysis might have on the earlier opinions and statement of the GMO Panel.

EFSA set up a task force of internal and external statistical experts to assess the 90-day rat feeding study. This was then reviewed by EFSA’s GMO Panel who issued a scientific statement in June 2007 saying there were no new concerns.