Germany’s GM Maize Ban Unfounded, Scientists Say

Germany's current ban on the cultivation of the genetically modified insect-resistant corn MON810 is "not scientifically grounded", according to the country's Central Commission for Biological Safety (ZKBS). The German Agriculture Ministry, last April, presented new evidences on the potential environmental impact of the insect-resistant maize, specifically six scientific papers describing possible detrimental effects of the MON810-produced Bt protein on non-target arthropods, crustaceans and mollusks. These studies, on which the ban on the GM maize is based, were analyzed by the ZKBS.

"After consideration of all the available scientific information, and according to the precautionary principle, the cultivation of MON810 does not present any risk for the environment," the ZKBS concluded after scrutinizing the studies. According to a report by the GMO compass, the Central Commission found "shortcomings in the experimental set-up" or "marginal scientific quality" in some of the studies.

A similar conclusion was made by researchers from the Joseph Fourier University, Paris-Sud 11 University and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) after analyzing the studies. Agnes Ricroch and colleagues, in a paper published by Transgenic Research, wrote that the German ban "is based on an incomplete list of references, ignores the widely admitted case-by-case approach, and confuses potential hazard and proven risk in the scientific procedure of risk assessment."

For more information, read http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/455.docu.html and http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11248-009-9297-5