BASF withdraws licensing request for GM potatoes

Date:01-30-2013

German agchem giant BASF announced it will no longer be seeking EU approval for its genetically modified potato varieties.

The company once again cited hostility to GM technology within Europe as its reason for withdrawing the applications. The announcement follows a statement on Wednesday 23rd January from the office of Health Commissioner Tonio Borg that the approval of any varieties of GM crop awaiting licensing in the bloc is unlikely to happen before 2015.

In January 2012 BASF moved its biotechnology research facilities to the United States and withdrew its GM Amflora potato from sale in the EU; the potato was one of only two GM crops licensed for cultivation in the bloc and had performed poorly.

A BASF statement on Tuesday declared the company will "discontinue the pursuit of regulatory approvals for the Fortuna, Amadea, and Modena potato projects in Europe because continued investment cannot be justified due to uncertainty in the regulatory environment and threats of field destructions."