EU Court Lights Red Light on Genetically Modified Potatoes

2013/12/16 China Science News

content Summary A few days ago, the European Court of Justice turned a red light on the cultivation of genetically modified potato Amflora, Amflora potatoes can produce a special type of starch used to make pulp or glue, or to produce animal feed. This starch is resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics, which the World Health Organization considers essential for human and animal health.

The Permanent Court of Justice of the European Union recently banned the cultivation and sale of a species called Amflora within the European Union. Transgenic potato, thus withdrawing the relevant permit issued by the European Commission in 2010.

The court's ruling will not affect the cultivation and sales of potatoes, because Amflora manufacturer BASF of Germany withdrew from the European market in 2012. But the ruling, which came into force in Luxembourg on December 13, is a real blow to the European Commission and may have a negative impact on the planting license of a genetically modified corn-after a long stalemate, the European Commission tried to give it in November 2013.

Amflora potatoes produce a special type of starch that is used to make pulp or glue, or to produce animal feed. This starch is resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics, which the World Health Organization considers essential for human and animal health. In 2005, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said Amflora was safe for both human health and the environment. Based on EFSA's recommendations, the European Commission has introduced a draft aimed at approving the cultivation of Amflora. However, EU member states did not sign the draft resolution.

In Europe, genetically modified crops have always been a controversial topic, and attitudes between countries are also very different, some completely opposed, some cautiously accepted. After that, the European Commission hoped to clear up doubts with another scientific point: in 2009, EFSA confirmed that the Amflora was safe. In March 2010, based on the EFSA "unified opinion", the European Commission issued a planting license to Amflora. However, Hungary, Austria, France, Luxembourg and Poland challenged the decision before the Court.

The court said that the European Commission had broken the rules: the scientific basis for the decision had changed and member states had the right to consider the modification of the proposal. In September 2013, the court ruled that the European Commission had canceled the planting license issued to genetically modified corn 1507. Opponents say the GM corn will produce a toxin to fight insects and antibodies to the herbicide glufosinate. Greenpeace Europe and other environmental groups welcomed the court's ruling, with Marco Contiero, Greenpeace's director of agricultural policy, saying that after EFSA updated its scientific position, the European Commission was improper in failing to give member states a chance to vote on the matter. "The European Commission should think twice and should not make decisions impulsively," Contiero said." At the same time, BASF has moved its GM research unit to the United States.

Peter Eckes, head of BASF in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, said the court ruling confirmed the company's decision to abandon the European market. The court's ruling once again shows that in January 2012, BASF made the right decision to transfer its research and development of plant biotechnology to "more promising markets" such as the United States and Asia ". Eckes added in an email that the court's decision will not have a negative impact on the Amflora's scientific evaluation.

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citation from Web of Science

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