EFSA Releases Risk Assessment of GM Maize GA21 for Renewal of Authorization

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) has published the scientific risk assessment for application EFSA-GMO-RX-005 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/20031 from Syngenta Crop Protection NV/SA. The application is for renewal of authorization of herbicide tolerant genetically modified (GM) maize GA21 for food and feed uses, import and processing, but excludes cultivation within the European Union.

The data received for this renewal application contained post-market environmental monitoring reports, a systematic search and evaluation of literature, updated bioinformatics analyses, and additional documents or studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorization period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application.

Under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize GA21 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 renewal application EFSA-GMO-RX-005 of new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize GA21.

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