In The Netherlands, Bayer Agriculture has filed for a second renewal of the authorization for food (including pollen), feed, import and processing of genetically modified (GM) maize MON810 with the cry1Ab gene, resulting in tolerance to certain lepidopteran pests.

MON810 was first authorized for food, feed, import, and processing, and cultivation in Europe in 1998. Market authorizations in Europe remain valid for 10 years, and a request to renew the authorization was submitted in 2007. The authorization for food, feed, import and processing was renewed in 2017, with the use of MON810 pollen in food receiving authorization in 2013. The renewal of the authorization for cultivation is still pending.

The application was submitted under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, and a food/feed assessment is carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and national organizations involved in the assessment of food safety. In the Netherlands, a food and/or feed assessment for Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 applications is carried out by Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR). The Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM) is of the opinion that the import and processing of maize MON810 poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands.

For more details, read the COGEM Advice.

https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=20176