EFSA: France's Ban on GM Maize Ban is Unjustified

A scientific paper published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that the current ban in France on the cultivation of Monsanto’s genetically modified maize is not scientifically justified. MON810 is the only genetically modified crop grown in the European Union. Earlier this year, the French government issued a nationwide ban on the GM maize because of 'serious doubts’ as to its safety.

France has submitted a number of scientific papers to the European Commission (EC) to justify the ban. Under EU law, a Member State can invoke safeguards on specific GMOs in the case where new or additional information would affect the risk assessment of an authorized transgenic organism. To this end, the EC requested EFSA to examine the claims and documents submitted by France.

EFSA’s GMO Panel released its opinion last week, saying that "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".

For more information, visit http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902156394.htm