EU applications for GE plants withdrawn

Monsanto has withdrawn at least four applications for the cultivation of new GE plants, Testbiotech reports. This move came after the company’s announcement to drop plans to grew new types of GM crops in the EU (we reported earlier). The decisions concern genetically engineered maize (Mon89034, NK603 x MON810, MON89034 x Nk603, Mon89034x, Mon88017). More applications from Monsanto for transgenic plants such as maize, soy, and sugar beet still seem to be pending.

“This might be the beginning of the end of these products. These withdrawals should not have been a big problem for Monsanto. In the USA, weed and insects already have adopted to cultivation to such plants”, say Christoph Then for Testbiotech. “These products are partially outdated and their safety is a matter of controversial debates.” The import of GE plants for usage in food and feed is not affected by this development. Monsanto still upholds the application for import of the GE maize SmartStax. More information is available here: http://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/884