Biotech Updates

EFSA: No Scientific Evidence on Environmental Risks of GM Oilseed Rape Ms8, Rf3, Ms8 x Rf3, and GT73

May 2, 2013

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its opinion on the extension of market ban of the genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3, Ms8 x Rf3, and GT73. Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA GMO Panel) evaluated the documentation provided by Austria to support the prolongation of the safeguard clause measure prohibiting the placing on the market of the said GM varieties for import, processing, and feed uses in the country.

Based on the documentation supplied by Austria and a review of recent scientific literature, the EFSA GMO Panel concludes that there is no specific scientific evidence in terms of risk to the environment that would support the notification of a safeguard clause measure under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC (http://www.biosafety.be/GB/Dir.Eur.GB/Del.Rel./2001_18/2001_18_23.html) nor its prolongation, and that would invalidate its previous risk assessments of the said GM varieties.

See EFSA's press releases at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3201.htm and http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3202.htm.