This week the Regulatory Committee of the EU Directive on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms decided to postpone decision-making on the marketing of a type of GM rape (line GT73) because the Committee wishes to have additional information on several aspects it involves. In the opinion of many Member States of the European Union, the final decision on the marketing authorisation of this GM rape line could be made when the risks of accidental release of rapeseeds into the environment have been diminished. Therefore, the applicants have to additionally submit the following documents:
Immediate decision-making was opposed, for example, by the Mediterranean countries, Great Britain, Germany and new Member States excluding Latvia and Czech Republic. Different from many other countries, in Estonia the oil processing plant is not located in the port but in an inland area, which is why rape should be transhipped several times in the course of transportation to the plant. This was the reason why Estonia wished to have more information on how to avoid the accidental release of seeds into the environment and how to act in the case of possible accidents. The application for authorisation to market GM rape line GT73 has been submitted through the Netherlands by Monsanto SA. The application states that the company wishes to import seeds from non-EU states, store rape, use it as forage and process it for industrial use or use as forage. The applicant is not planning to start growing GM rape in the territory of the European Union. The decision on the application for authorisation to market GM rape line GT73 will be made in three months by the Council of Ministers who have previously received the opinion of all Member States on the amended application. Further information: |
