AgroPages-Delay in EU GMO import approval results in trade disruption-Agricultural news

Since late 2013, the European Commission has failed to formally adopt any authorization decisions for GM crops for import, according to EuropaBio's position paper "Time for the Commission to Authorize Safe GMO Imports - Unprecedented delays risk trade disruptions and threaten animal feed supplies - January 2015". As of January 1st 2015, 12 safety assessed and voted products are still pending for formal adoption by the European Commission, they are: Monsanto’s Cotton MON88913, Oilseed Rape MON 88302, Maize NK603, Soybean MON87708, Soybean MON87705, Oilseed Rape GT73 and Maize MON87460; Bayer CropScience’s Cotton GHB614 × LLCotton25, Maize T25, Cotton T304-40; BASF’s Soybean BPS-CV127-9; DuPont Pioneer’s Soybean 305423.

Yet, for over a year, the European Commission has put on hold the authorization of genetically modified (GM) crops for import, despite confirmation from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that these products are as safe as conventional crops. Today 58 GM applications for import are pending in the EU system, of which 18 have already completed the EFSA risk assessment.

Even studies by and on behalf of the European Commission confirm that, as a result of unduly delayed GMO import authorizations, trade disruptions “could become more severe, more frequent, and affect more products”. “The total cost to the economy would be € 9.6 billion”.