Biotech Updates

EU States Fail to Agree on GM Soybean Approval

November 28, 2008

The European Union’s Council of Agricultural Ministers failed to return a definite opinion whether to disapprove or allow the release of Monsanto’s genetically modified RoundupReady2 soybean. Under EU law, the European Commission will now decide on the fate of the herbicide-tolerant soybean. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EU's independent scientific authority, found that the soybean "is unlikely to have any adverse effect on human and animal health or on the environment". The Commission is expected to give the green light for the new soybean, since it has always stood by EFSA’s evaluation.

There was no qualified majority of Member States either for or against authorization of the soybean. Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland voted for the authorization whereas Germany, France and Italy abstained from voting.

Read the full article at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/401.docu.html