European Food Safety Authority

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) describes itself as:

the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks.[1]

GMO Panel

The GMO Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for approval in Europe and reports to the European Commission, which then submits its decision to the European Council. In the event that the Council cannot reach a qualified majority for or against authorisation, the matter is sent back to the Commission, which is free to authorise the GMO based on a special regulatory procedure called comitology.

The EFSA has never given a negative opinion on a GMO put forward for approval, whatever the scientific concerns about its safety.[2] In July 2009 it gave a positive opinion even on Monsanto's GM maize MON810, which is banned for health and environmental reasons in six EU Member States as allowed under EU law.[3]

GMO Panel members

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Notes

  1. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EFSA website, accessed 2 July 2009
  2. Commission hesitant to approve more GM crops, Euractiv.com, 8 May 2008, accessed 2 July 2009
  3. EFSA back in bed with GMO industry: MON810 opinion shown to Monsanto but not to public, press release, Friends of the Earth, 30 June 2009, accessed 2 July 2009