Proposed Council Decision authorising the placing on the market of food containing GMO maize line 1507 (DAS-Ø15Ø7-1) (link)

Brussels, 05 Oct 2005

Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION authorising the placing on the market of food containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize line 1507 (DAS-Ø15Ø7-1) under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Full Text

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The attached draft proposal for a Council Decision concerns food containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize line 1507, for which a request for placing on the market was submitted by Pioneer Overseas Corporation and Dow AgroSciences Europe to the competent authorities of The Netherlands on 15 February 2001, under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.

Following the initial assessment report from the Netherlands, who considered 1507 maize as safe as conventional maize, reasoned objections were raised by some Member States. As a consequence, an additional assessment was required.

Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on GM food and feed is applicable from 18 April 2004. According to Article 46(1) of this Regulation, requests submitted under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 before 18 April 2004 and for which an additional assessment report was required and has not been transmitted to the Commission before that date, must be transformed into applications under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 .

On 3 March 2005, the European Food Safety Authority gave its opinion that there is no evidence to indicate that the placing on the market of the food products presented in the application is likely to cause adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment.

Against this background, a draft Commission Decision authorising the placing on the Community market of food containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize line 1507 was submitted to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, on 3 June 2005, for vote. Eight Member States (111 votes) voted in favour, nine Member States (69 votes) voted against and eight Member States (141 votes) abstained.

The Committee delivered no opinion. Consequently, pursuant to Article 35, paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and in accordance with Article 5 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC , the Commission is required to submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken, the Council having three months in which to act by a qualified majority, and inform the Parliament.

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Brussels, 5.10.2005 COM(2005) 469 final Previous Item Back to Titles Print Item