EFSA gave positive opinion for GM maize GA21 for renewal of authorisation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given a positive safety assessment to the application EFSA-GMO-RX-005 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta Crop Protection.

The application from Syngenta is asking for renewal of authorisation of genetically modified maize GA21, for food and feed uses, import and processing, but excludes cultivation within the European Union (EU).

In delivering its scientific opinion, the GMO Panel took into account application EFSA-GMO-RX-005, additional information provided by the applicant, scientific comments submitted by the Member States and relevant scientific publications. The data received in the context of the renewal application EFSAGMO-RX-005 contained: post-market environmental monitoring reports, an evaluation of the literature retrieved by a systematic search, updated bioinformatics analyses, and additional documents or studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorisation period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application.

In conclusion, under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize GA21 considered for renewal is identical to the corrected sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in the renewal application EFSA-GMO-RX-005 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize GA21.