COGEM Concludes Import and Processing of GM Soybean MON 87708 Does not Pose an Environmental Risk in The Netherlands

The Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM) released the advice for the renewal of the authorization for importing and processing genetically modified (GM) soybean MON 87708, which was previously authorized in 2011 and valid for 10 years.

The authorization holders filed a renewal application and submitted monitoring reports, updated bioinformatic analyses, and a systematic literature search. The COGEM advice has the following findings on the herbicide tolerant soybean:

• The molecular characterization of soybean MON 87708 has been updated and meets the criteria of COGEM;
• The updated bioinformatics analyses, literature review, and monitoring reports do not give any indication of potential environmental risk;
• The overall conclusion from COGEM states that the import and processing of GM soybean MON 87708 poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands.

For more information, read the COGEM advice.