Brussels, Belgium
November 30, 2009

The European Commission adopted today a Decision authorising genetically modified (GM) maize MIR604 for food and feed uses and import and processing. MIR604 maize received a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and underwent the full authorisation procedure set out in the EU legislation. As Member States failed to return a qualified majority decision for or against this authorisation in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), and then in the Council, the dossier was sent back to the Commission for adoption. The authorisation is valid for 10 years, and any products produced from MIR604 maize will be subject to the EU's labelling and traceability rules.

For more information, see: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm

Website: http://europa.eu

Published: November 30, 2009