EFSA: no conclusion on safety of GM maize 98140

The European Food Safety Authority could not conclude on the safety of genetically modified maize 98140 after the applicant failed to supply essential data to allow a full risk assessment to take place, according to EFSA's press release. Experts from the Authority’s Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) found it was not possible to carry out the comparative assessment of the GM maize because studies submitted as part of the application contained insufficient data on the plant’s characteristics, such as its composition and appearance.

Following an initial assessment of the field trials by the applicant, EFSA concluded that the plant variety chosen by the applicant as a comparator was not valid. As with nearly all GMO applications submitted to EFSA (98% to date), scientists from the Authority requested additional data from the applicant so GM maize 98140 could be properly assessed. However, the information supplied by the company relating to field trials performed for the comparative assessment again failed to meet the criteria in EFSA guidance documents. The full press release is available here.
 

The German Informationsdienst Gentechnik commented that there is still some way to go before the pioneer GM maize 98140 is approved by the EU. Various other GM organisms, however, could be authorised soon.