EFSA GMO Panel Releases Scientific Assessment of GM Soybean MON 94637

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) GMO Panel has released its Scientific Opinion on the safety of genetically modified (GM) insect resistant soybean MON 94637. The scope of application covers import, processing, and food and feed uses within the European Union (EU) for soybean MON 94637 and does not include cultivation in the EU.

According to the Scientific Opinion, none of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics tested between soybean MON 94637 and its conventional counterpart need further assessment. The GMO Panel did not identify safety concerns regarding the toxicity and allergenicity of the Cry1A.2 and Cry1B.2 proteins as expressed in soybean MON 94637 and found no evidence that the genetic modification would change the overall safety of soybean MON 94637 as a food or feed. The consumption of soybean MON 94637 and its food and feed products does not pose a nutritional concern for humans and animals, and no post-market monitoring of food/feed is considered necessary.

Following the submission of dossier GMFF-2023-21116 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer CropScience LP, the GMO Panel found that the post-market environmental monitoring reports (PMEM) and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of soybean MON 94637. The GMO Panel concludes that soybean MON 94637 is as safe as its conventional counterpart and the tested non-GM soybean varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health, and the environment.

For more information, read the Scientific Opinion in the EFSA Journal.