EFSA Issues 2022 Post-market Environmental Monitoring Report on the Cultivation of GM Maize MON 810

The 2022 post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) report on the cultivation of the Cry1Ab-expressing maize event MON 810 presents the results of insect resistance management and monitoring activities. Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released an assessment of the 2022 PMEM report on genetically modified (GM) maize MON 810.

The assessment from EFSA revealed that the 2022 PMEM report found no evidence of adverse effects from cultivating maize MON 810 and data from farmer questionnaires and scientific literature show no unexpected negative impacts on human and animal health or the environment. The assessment also found no practical resistance to Cry1Ab in corn borer populations in north-eastern Spain and decreased susceptibility in corn borer populations in the Mediterranean area. EFSA notes that there are still uncertainties on the potential risks of harmful amounts of MON 810 pollen on highly sensitive non-target lepidoptera.

EFSA provided several recommendations to ensure the safety of maize MON 810 cultivation for human and animal health and the environment. Some of the recommendations are the following:

• Strengthen monitoring plan and strategy to ensure early detection of changes in Cry1Ab susceptibility;
• Reinforce monitoring, education, and communication efforts in the region of Girona;
• Revise and describe specific actions included in the remedial action plan;
• Harmonize insect resistance monitoring strategy and implementation mitigation measures; and
• Apply the same farmer questionnaire in Spain and Portugal.

For more information, read the full assessment from the EFSA Journal.