EFSA has failed to respond effectively to criticism of its favourable safety opinion of GM maize 1507 from independent research organisation Testbiotech.
Genetically engineered maize 1507: EFSA cannot invalidate criticism
Testbiotech demands EU authorisation is stopped
Testbiotech, 2 June 2014
http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/1059
In a letter to the EU Commission, Testbiotech is once more asking for the market authorisation of genetically engineered maize 1507 to be stopped. The reason for this letter is a statement received from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concerning two Testbiotech reports. In its statement, EFSA fails to invalidate the crucial points raised by Testbiotech. The authority defends its own risk assessment but cannot disprove the substantial lack of relevant and sufficiently reliable data.
“After analysing the EFSA statement it is evident that the existing data are not sufficient to exclude risks for human health and the environment. On the contrary, some of the knowledge gaps are becoming even more evident”, Christoph Then says for Testbiotech. “Commissioner Tonio Borg now has to show that he is able to provide the high level of safety standards requested by EU regulations.”
Maize 1507 is genetically engineered to produce an insecticidal toxin and was made resistant to a herbicide (glufosinate). The EU Commission announced at beginning of the year that market authorisation for cultivation will be given soon. However, as stated in French media, the Commission has not yet approved market authorisation for maize 1507 because of some recent Testbiotech reports. The reports mostly concentrate on the deficiencies in risk assessment and lack of reliable data, and were sent by the EU Commission to the EFSA for review.
Last week Testbiotech got hold of the EFSA statement, which mostly tries to defend its own opinions. But as Testbiotech now shows in a short backgrounder, the EFSA statement does not invalidate the most crucial point raised by Testbiotech. It is obvious that there is still a lack of sufficiently reliable data to adequately assess the safety of maize 1507.
Contact: Christoph Then, Tel 00 49 (0) 151 54638040, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Letter to the EU Commission: www.testbiotech.org/node/1057
Testbiotech backgrounder: www.testbiotech.org/node/1054
EFSA statement: www.testbiotech.org/node/1055
Reports previously published by Testbiotech:
www.testbiotech.org/node/981
www.testbiotech.org/node/1015
www.testbiotech.org/node/1030