EFSA back in bed with GM industry

1.EFSA BACK IN BED WITH GMO INDUSTRY
2.EFSA green light on Monsanto GM maize sets up new clash between Commission and member states

NOTE: EFSA have now finally posted the MON810 opinion on their website after coming under intense pressure from critics and journalists - see item 1.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902628240.htm
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1.EFSA BACK IN BED WITH GMO INDUSTRY
MON810 opinion shown to Monsanto but not to public
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE
For immediate release: Tuesday 30 June 2009

Brussels, 30 June - The supposedly independent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has shared a key scientific paper, which gives its opinion on the future of a controversial GM crop in Europe, with producer corporation Monsanto before making it accessible to the public, Friends of the Earth Europe has learned today.

The European Food Safety Authority today refused to issue the Opinion to Friends of the Earth Europe saying it would be published in the next few days [1], but Monsanto had already issued a statement ‘welcoming’ the positive EFSA opinion on its genetically modified maize (GM) yesterday afternoon [2].

The scientific opinion concerns Monsanto’s controversial genetically modified maize (MON810) which is undergoing a re-approval request as required under EU law [3]. The authority is believed to have stated that the GM crop is safe to be grown the same recommendation it has made for all previous GMO approvals since it was established.

“EFSA just has no credibility left. This genetically modified maize is the most controversial authorisation issue in Europe at the moment, and to give privileged access to Monsanto over the public, environmental, consumer and health organisations shows just how pro-GMO and pro-industry the Authority is," Helen Holder, European GMO campaign
coordinator at Friends of the Earth Europe said.

“Its time to sack the EFSA scientists, disband its GMO panel and move GMO risk assessment to a truly independent and effective body.

“Six EU countries have already banned Monsanto’s GM maize, and Environment Ministers recently stated that GMO laws on risk assessment are not being followed properly. The green light should not be given for this crop to continue to be grown in Europe.”

At the end of last year, EU Environment Ministers unanimously concluded that GMO laws are not being implemented properly, in particular long term impact assessments for which the EFSA is responsible [4].

Facts on MON810:

- MON810 is a ‘Bt’ or ‘pesticide producing’ GM crop which secretes a toxin to kill an insect called the corn borer

- The environmental and health impacts of this type of GM crops are uncertain, in particular on insects that it is not designed to harm

- MON810 is currently banned for health and environmental reasons in six EU Member States as allowed under EU law. The countries that have banned MON 810 are France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Austria and Hungary

- The GM maize is the only GM crop to have been authorised for commercial growing in the EU

- This maize is grown in a tiny area in the EU representing 0.06% of agricultural land.
- The area under GM maize cultivation in the EU fell by 2% in 2009 compared to 2008 and will further fall this year after the recent ban of MON810 in Germany.

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For more information, please contact:

Helen Holder, Coordinator of the Friends of the Earth Europe GMOs
campaign: Tel: +32 2 893 1029 or +32 474 857638 (Belgian mobile),
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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2.EFSA green light on Monsanto GM maize sets up new clash between Commission and member states

Brussels, 30th June, 2009 The European Commission and EU member states are set to clash as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is today expected to publish an opinion on the re-authorisation of Monsanto’s MON810 genetically modified (GM) maize, Greenpeace said today. Twelve EU countries have recently expressed their concerns on the safety of the GM maize and six member states have banned the cultivation of the GM crop on their soil. [1]

“Once again EFSA has buried its head in the sand and ignored scientific evidence on the negative effects of Monsanto’s pesticide-producing GM maize on the environment. The Commission’s blind reliance on EFSA’s flawed opinions is likely to anger member states who feel scientific concerns on GM maize are not being addressed seriously,” said Marco Contiero, Greenpeace EU GMO policy director.

Independent scientists have complained of serious flaws in the application dossier submitted by Monsanto and about the quality of EFSA's work.[2] In an unprecedented move in May, 18 ministers from 12 EU countries sent EFSA a letter explaining scientific concerns linked to the unintended effects of MON810 on insects species.[3] The opinion published by EFSA today shows no evidence that these concerns were seriously taken into account.

In December 2008, EU environment ministers unanimously called for a review of the authorisation process for GM crops and substantial improvement in the way EFSA assesses the impact of GM crops on the environment and our health. EFSA itself acknowledges that it is currently not in a position to assess the long-term environmental effects of GM crops, as required by EU law. The Commission has given EFSA until April 2010 to improve its capacity to assess long term impacts.

“How can EFSA come up with a positive opinion on MON810 when it has publicly recognised its inability to determine the long term impacts of GM crops? Allowing EFSA to express opinions on GM crops while it cannot assess long term environmental impacts is like allowing someone into a Formula 1 race just because they have a driving licence,” said Contiero.

Greenpeace calls on the European Commission to take account of existing scientific evidence on the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of Monsanto's MON810 maize. No GM crop should be authorised until the EU risk assessment process is thoroughly improved and EFSA is equipped to assess the full impact of GM crops.

Contacts:

Marco Contiero Greenpeace EU GMO policy director: +32 (0)477 77 70 34 (mob.), +32 (0)2 274 19 06, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mark Breddy Greenpeace EU communications manager: +32 (0)496 15 62 29 (mob.), +32 (0)2 274 19 03, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes to the editor:

[1] Austria, Hungary, France, Greece, Luxembourg and Germany have invoked the safeguard clause and have forbidden the cultivation of MON810 maize. In March, 22 member states rejected the Commission's request to abolish existing MON810 bans in Austria and Hungary.

[2] For a list of peer-reviewed scientific studies on environmental impacts, go to: www.greenpeace.to/publications/Bt-maize-in-Europe-2009.pdf

[3] Last week, 11 EU countries also called on environment ministers to recognise the right to ban the cultivation of GMOs on their territory because of environmental concerns.