London (1.1.09) – On 10 June 1999 and on 8 May 2000, Austria invoked Article 16 of Directive 90/220/EEC (safeguard clause) to provisionally prohibit the placing on the market of the authorised genetically modified (GM) maize events MON810 and T25 on its territory. In February 2004 and November 2007, Austria provided additional information to support the national safeguard measure to be considered under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC. To define whether the information submitted by Austria comprises new information that would affect the environmental risk assessment for the uses laid down in the corresponding consent, the European Commission requested in a letter, dated 18 April 2008, a scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Following investigation of the evidence presented in the Austrian submission, the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) of EFSA concludes that there is no new scientific evidence that would invalidate the previous risk assessments of maize MON810 and T25. 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 for the marketing of maize MON810 and T25, for its intended uses, in Austria.

EFSA’s overall conclusions and recommendations

The GMO Panel has investigated the claims and report provided by Austria. In the Austrian report, the GMO Panel did not identify any new data subject to scientific scrutiny or scientific information that would change the previous risk assessments conducted on maize MON810 and T25, which currently have marketing consent in the EU. In addition, the Austrian submission did not supply scientific evidence that the environment or ecology of Austria presents conditions that would require separate risk assessments from those conducted for other regions in the EU.

The GMO Panel concludes that maize MON810 and T25 are unlikely to have adverse effects on human and animal health or on the environment in the context of their proposed uses. The GMO Panel therefore reaffirms its previous conclusions on the safety of maize MON810 and T25.

Having considered the information submitted by Austria and a broad range of scientific literature, the GMO Panel is of the opinion that there is no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health and the environment, that would justify the invocation of safeguard clause under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC for the marketing of maize MON810 and T25 for its intended uses in Austria. In conclusion, the GMO Panel finds that the scientific evidence currently available does not sustain the arguments provided by Austria and that cultivation of maize MON810 and T25 is unlikely to have an adverse effect on human and animal health and the environment in Austria.

Source:

Request from the European Commission related to the safeguard clause invoked by Austria on maize MON810 and T25 according to Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms. The EFSA Journal (2008) 891, 1-64 (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902209965.htm)

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