European Commission Approves Syngenta GM Maize

The European Commission on September 16, 2016, has authorized the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified (GM) maize Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x GA21, four related GM maizes combining three different single GM events (Bt11 × MIR162 × MIR604, Bt11 × MIR162 × GA21, Bt11 × MIR604 × GA21, MIR162 × MIR604 × GA21), and six related GM maize combining two different single GM events (Bt11 × MIR162, Bt11 × MIR604, Bt11 × GA21, MIR162 × MIR604, MIR162 × GA21 and MIR604 × GA21). These events had gone through a full authorization procedure, including a favorable scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The approved GM events had received "no opinion" vote from the Member States in both the Standing and Appeal Committees, and the Commission decided to adopt this pending decision. The authorization does not cover cultivation, valid for 10 years, and any products from these GM events will be subject to the prescribed strict labelling and traceability rules of the EU.

For more information, read the news release at the European Commission website.