EFSA gave positive opinion for Corteva’s GM maize 1507 × NK603 for renewal of authorization

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given a positive safety assessment to the application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐008 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Pioneer Hi‐Bred International, Inc. and Dow AgroSciences LLC. (Corteva Agriscience, agricultural division of DowDuPont)

The application from Corteva is asking for the renewal of authorisation of the insect‐resistant, herbicide‐tolerant genetically modified (GM) maize 1507 × NK603. The scope of the renewal application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐008 is for placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from maize 1507 × NK603 for import and processing, excluding cultivation within the European Union (EU).

In delivering its scientific opinion, the GMO Panel took into account application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐008, 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 EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐008 contained: post‐market environmental monitoring reports, an evaluation of the literature retrieved by a systematic search, updated bioinformatics analyses, and additional 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 events in maize 1507 × NK603 considered for renewal are identical to the newly reported 1507 sequence and the NK603 sequence of the originally assessed two‐event stack maize, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in the renewal application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐008 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize 1507 × NK603 (EFSA, 2006).