Biotech Updates

EFSA Says Yes to Reauthorization for GM Sugar Beet in the EU

November 22, 2017

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) has given reauthorization for a genetically modified (GM) sugar beet in the European Union (EU).

Developed by KWS SAAT SE and Monsanto Company, the GM sugar beet H7-1 has been modified to be herbicide resistant. The published risk assessment for application EFSA-GMO-RX-006 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 is for renewal of authorization of GM sugar beet H7-1 for import and processing, excluding cultivation within the European Union (EU).

According to the GMO Panel, under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in sugar beet H7-1 considered for renewal is identical to the corrected sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in the context of this renewal application for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on sugar beet H7-1.

For more details, read the assessment in the EFSA Journal.