Monsanto starts to withdraw EU applications for cultivation of genetically engineered plants

Decision concerns at least four applications for insecticidal and herbicide tolerant maize
Monday, 26 August 2013
Parma/Munich

Monsanto has now withdrawn at least four applications after it announced that it would no longer push for the cultivation of new genetically engineered plants in the EU. The decisions concern genetically engineered maize (Mon89034, NK603 x MON810, MON89034 x Nk603, Mon89034x Mon88017) which produce insecticidal proteins and/ or is made resistant to herbicide glyphosate („Roundup“). This information is derived from the register of European Food Safety Authority EFSA. There are more applications pending from Monsanto for transgenic plants such as maize, soy, sugar beet which still seem to be valid.

“This might be the beginning of the end of these products. These withdrawals should not have been a big problem for Monsanto. In the US, 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 “These products are partially outdated and their safety is a matter of controversial debates.”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 genetically engineered plants for usage in food and feed is not affected by this development. Monsanto still upholds the application for import of genetically engineered maize SmartStax which produces six insecticides and is made resistant against two herbicides. The EU Commission already announced to media in Germany that the maize will be authorised in September or October for usage in food and feed.

Contact: 

Christoph Then, Testbiotech, Tel. 0151/54638040, info@testbiotech.org

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