[B] Italy threatens ban on EU-approved GM-derived foods

June 26, 2000

By Tim King, BridgeNews

Brussels--June 23--The Italian government is threatening to ban
seven food products derived from genetically modified
organisms, even though they have EU approval, the European
Commission said Friday. The comments followed a meeting
between the European Commissioner for health and consumer
safety, David Byrne, and Italian minister for European Affairs,
Gianni Mattioli.

* * *

Mattioli has given the European Commission 10 days' warning
that he will invoke a safeguard clause under the EU rules for the
regulation of GMOs.

He proposes to ban three oils from GM rapeseed, and other
foods and food ingredients derived from various GM strains of
maize.

Mattioli is taking issue with the EU rules for so-called "novel
foods", under which products may be permitted onto the EU
market if they are "substantially equivalent" to conventional
food in their composition, nutritional value, metabolism,
intended use and the level of undesirable products. They can be
placed on the EU market on the basis of a favorable opinion
from a competent authority in one of the member states and
notification to the European Commission. The Commission then
notifies the other 14 EU member states.

Currently there are 10 products that have been judged
"substantially equivalent" and are marketed in the EU.

The products, although derived from GMOs do not contain
detectable GMOs any longer in their final stages, that is in the
oil, flour or starch.

Mattioli has presented evidence questioning whether the novel
foods really are "substantially equivalent". Byrne said he would
forward the evidence to the EU's scientific committee for food.
Commission spokeswoman Beate Gminder said there was no
evidence presented of a potential public health risk from the
products.

Commission officials said privately that Mattioli appeared to be
questioning the procedures for approving novel foods rather than
presenting evidence of their dangers.

Mattioli told the Commission that if he did not have a
satisfactory response within 10 days he would invoke a safeguard
clause to block the import into Italy of these products.

Below are the products in question.


Applicant: Food and food ingredient

Plant Genetic Systems: Processed oil from GM rapeseed from 1)
male sterile MS1Bn (B91-4) oilseed rape and all conventional
crosses 2) fertility restorer RF2Bn (B94-2) 3) hybrid combination
MS1XRF2.

Plant Genetic Systems: Processed oil from GM rapeseed from 1)
male sterile MS1Bn (B91-4) oilseed rape and all conventional
crosses and 2) fertility restorer RF2Bn (B94-2) 3) hybrid
combination MS1XRF1.

Monsanto: refined oil from glyphosate tolerant oilseed rape
line GT73

Monsanto: food and food ingredients from maize flour, maize
gluten, maize seomlina, maize starch, maize glucose and maize oil
derived from the progeny of maize line MON 810.

AgrEvo: starch and all its derivatives; crude and refined
oil; all heat-processed or fermented products obtained from hominys,
grits and flour from the GM maize, tolerant to glufosinate ammonium,
transformation event T25 and all the varieties derived from.

Novartis Seeds: Food and food ingredients derives from the original
transformant Bt11 crossed withthe Northrup King Company inbred line no
2044 (maize).

Pioneer Overseas: Novel foods and novel food ingredients derived from
GM maize MON 809. 


End