The file of the GM potato Amflora
03/03/2010
Description of the authorization process of the 2 files of the genetically modified potato Amflora (EH92-527-1). The process was initiated in Sweden in 2003. Yesterday, the European Commission in Brussels approved the cultivation and industrial processing, the genetically modified potato, which involves a health and environmental risks.
Back in 2003, the German chemical company BASF submitted a request for authorization of the GM potato Amflora for commercial growing, industrial processing and feed, according to the 2001/18 procedure (reference SE/96/3501 ).
Later in 2005, BASF submitted a second request for authorization, this time according to the 1829/2003 procedure (reference UK/2005/14). This second file was intriguing, as the potato would have been only destined for the paper industry. No connection with food or feed. But, as EFSA mentioned in their agreement from the 7th of December, 2005, "the petitionner concluded that he cannot exclude the fact that certain products obtained by starch processing could end up being used or can occure in the food chain”(1). Therefore admitting that the GMO industrial production chain and the food chain are not completely isolated, the European Commission proposed a permit formula which includes apart from the request, the food chain, mentioning that the GM starch from the Amflora potato could be authorized in the food chain: "only in the case of accidental or technically unavoidable occurance with a maximum content of 0,9%!"(2)
Through it's decision from 02/03/2010, the European Commission authorized both files which were managed in parallel. (3)
Also, to be noted that neither the Experts Committee in December 2006, nor the Ministers Council in july 2007 haven't reached a decision in order to stop the authorization of this GM potato. Therefore the files ended up on the table of the European Commission which took the final decision.(3)
NOTE:
1. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178620769736.htm
2. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/fr/07/st16/st16785.fr07.pdf
3. Press release of the European Commission 02/03/2010 http://infomg.ro/web/en/Home/News/3/705
Description of the authorization process of the 2 files of the genetically modified potato Amflora (EH92-527-1). The process was initiated in Sweden in 2003. Yesterday, the European Commission in Brussels approved the cultivation and industrial processing, the genetically modified potato, which involves a health and environmental risks.
Back in 2003, the German chemical company BASF submitted a request for authorization of the GM potato Amflora for commercial growing, industrial processing and feed, according to the 2001/18 procedure (reference SE/96/3501 ).
Later in 2005, BASF submitted a second request for authorization, this time according to the 1829/2003 procedure (reference UK/2005/14). This second file was intriguing, as the potato would have been only destined for the paper industry. No connection with food or feed. But, as EFSA mentioned in their agreement from the 7th of December, 2005, "the petitionner concluded that he cannot exclude the fact that certain products obtained by starch processing could end up being used or can occure in the food chain”(1). Therefore admitting that the GMO industrial production chain and the food chain are not completely isolated, the European Commission proposed a permit formula which includes apart from the request, the food chain, mentioning that the GM starch from the Amflora potato could be authorized in the food chain: "only in the case of accidental or technically unavoidable occurance with a maximum content of 0,9%!"(2)
Through it's decision from 02/03/2010, the European Commission authorized both files which were managed in parallel. (3)
Also, to be noted that neither the Experts Committee in December 2006, nor the Ministers Council in july 2007 haven't reached a decision in order to stop the authorization of this GM potato. Therefore the files ended up on the table of the European Commission which took the final decision.(3)
NOTE:
1. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178620769736.htm
2. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/fr/07/st16/st16785.fr07.pdf
3. Press release of the European Commission 02/03/2010 http://infomg.ro/web/en/Home/News/3/705
