GM freeze over

Europe has given the green light to a new genetically modified corn, putting an end to a six year moratorium. 

The GMO – known as BT-11 – is the first to be authorised in Europe since 1998.

In the face of current popular anti-biotech feeling throughout the EU, BT-11 failed to get approval from national governments and the decision had to be passed to the European Commission.

Faced with a lack of scientific evidence for a ban, together with a legal challenge from the USA over the six year moratorium, Brussels decided to say yes to the corn.

Health commissioner David Byrne said “GM sweet corn has been subject to the most rigorous pre-marketing assessment in the world”.

“It has been scientifically assessed as being as safe as any conventional maize - food safety is therefore not an issue, it is a question of consumer choice.”

And the biotech sector welcomed the decision, with Europabio calling it “an important one”.

Syngenta themselves were more cautious, saying it would “take more time to see how public opinion reacts” to the authorisation.

“This is just one step – there will be many.”

“This decision in itself has no significant financial impact on Syngenta - in the end the consumer in Europe will decide.”

And environmentalists hope that in the end public feeling will sabotage the corn’s chances, with Greenpeace claiming “Consumer resistance to GM food is as strong as ever”.

The NGO added “The European Commission is supposed to represent the interests of European citizens and the environment, but has chosen in this case to defend US farmers and narrow agro- business interests”.

BT-11 has now been freed up for sale, but not for growing.

It is already grown in the USA, Canada, Argentina, South Africa and Japan, as well as being sold in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Korea.

The crop was developed by Swiss firm Syngenta to be resistant to certain types of worms.

Any gene altered corn sold in European shops after Wednesday’s decision will have to be clearly labelled.

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