AgroPages-EFSA refuses Bulgaria’s prohibition on GM maize MON 810-Agricultural news

Related News

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has refused the emergency measure notified by Bulgaria on prohibiting cultivation of Monsanto’s GM maize MON 810. EFSA concludes that neither the arguments put forward by Bulgaria nor the documentation reveal new scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health or the environment, that would support the adoption of an emergency measure on the cultivation of maize MON 810. In the absence of new relevant scientific evidence, EFSA concludes that its previous risk assessment conclusions and risk management recommendations on maize MON 810 and those of its GMO Panel remain valid and applicable.

In April 2014, Bulgaria notified to the European Commission the need to take emergency measures but at that time did not provide any scientific evidence to support the proposed measures prohibiting the cultivation of maize MON 810. In July 2014, Bulgaria notified to the EC again its analytical report justifying the implementation Decision of the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria prohibiting the cultivation of maize MON 810 on the territory of Bulgaria.

EFSA has rejected many countries’ prohibition on GM maize MON 810 this year, including France and Greece.