EU to decide on the import of new genetically engineered soybeans

Plants are resistant to a cocktail of herbicides known to be hazardous to human health
Friday, 7 July 2017

Important votes are scheduled to be taken mid-July in Brussels on EU imports of new genetically engineered soybeans. The soybean plants produced by Bayer and Dow AgroSciences are engineered to be resistant to the application of several herbicides. Consequently, the soybean harvest will be burdened with the respective residues. Nonetheless, the European Food Safety Authority EFSA has only partially assessed the residues of the herbicides and did not take combinatorial effects into account. According to the data available, consumption of the soybeans are likely to pose health risks.

A precedent case: CRISPR mushrooms

Pattern of changes in genome do not correspond to natural variations

26 June 2017 / Today in Berlin, experts are to meet in a conference organised by the German Ministry of Agriculture to discuss new methods of genetic engineering. One example of an organism created by these methods are mushrooms that have a delayed natural process of browning after being cut, and also have prolonged shelf-life. According to information issued by Pennsylvania State University where the mushrooms were developed, no additional genes were inserted and 'only' several short sequences removed from their DNA.

New Guidance for securing EFSA independence

Testbiotech demands substantial improvements

19 June 2017 / Next Wednesday, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will make a decision on its new guidance for securing its independence. Testbiotech is demanding substantial improvements: EFSA should prioritise more independence specifically in regard to curbing the influence of the agrifood industries. In this respect, the EFSA position should be to give preference to the interests of the general public and, more particularly, the protection of health and the environment.

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