After positive safety assessments, one corn variety developed by genetic modification has been authorized by the European Commission Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, DG Health and Food Safety.
Furthermore, authorizations have been renewed for one variety of soybean, and a second corn variety.
These authorizations are limited to the import of these materials for use in animal feed and human food, and specifically exclude their cultivation in the EU.
Previously, assessments by the European Food Safety Authority showed these crops to be as safe as varieties developed by conventional breeding techniques. Covered by these studies were impacts on human and animal health, as well as the environment.
Within the bloc, existing regulations are in place covering the labeling and traceability of GM crops and their products, and these will apply to these varieties.
DG authorizations remain in effect for 10 years.
In recent weeks, the European Parliament adopted new rules on plant breeding. In effect, a new category was created for the regulation of this area.
The introduction allows plant varieties created by relatively straightforward new genomic techniques to be subject to the same rules as those developed by conventional breeding methods. This is in contrast to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which will continue to require official authorization before they can be commercialized in the EU.
