Environmental risk assessment of import and processing of insect resistant genetically modified maize MON 95275
- The present application (EFSA/GMO/NL/2022/173) concerns the authorisation for import and processing for use in feed and food of genetically modified (GM) maize MON 95275;
- Maize MON 95275 will not be commercialised as a single product, the environmental risk assessment therefore considers the hypothetical case in which import could occur;
- Maize MON 95275 was produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation;
- Maize MON 95275 expresses the 1 and vpb4Da2 genes and the DvSnf7.1 suppression cassette, all of which confer resistance against feeding damage caused by certain coleopteran insects;
- In the Netherlands, feral maize populations have never been observed and the appearance of volunteers – not deliberately planted – is rare;
- In the Netherlands, the wild relative of maize, teosinte, is not present in the natural environment, hybridisation of GM maize with other species is therefore not possible;
- The molecular characterisation of maize MON 95275 meets the criteria of COGEM, and no indications for potential environmental risks were identified;
- There are no indications that the introduced traits will allow GM maize MON 95275 to survive in the Dutch environment;
- COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of maize MON 95275 poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands;
- COGEM abstains from giving advice on the potential risks of incidental consumption since other organisations carry out a food/feed assessment.