Renewal of the authorisation for import and processing of genetically modified maize MIR604
- The present application (EFSA/GMO/RX/013) concerns the renewal of the authorisation for import and processing of genetically modified (GM) maize MIR604;
- GM maize MIR604 was previously authorised for import and processing in 2009;
- COGEM advised positively on the import and processing of MIR604 in 2005;
- The GM maize expresses the genes mcry3A and mir604pmi;
- It is resistant to certain colepidopteran insects and able to use mannose as a carbon source;
- In the Netherlands, feral maize populations have never been observed and the appearance of volunteers is rare;
- In the Netherlands, the wild relative of maize, teosinte, is not present in maize fields or in nature and hybridisation of GM maize with other species is therefore not possible;
- The bioinformatic analyses of MIR604 has been updated and meets the criteria of COGEM;
- The updated bioinformatics analysis, literature review and monitoring reports do not give any indication of a potential environmental risk;
- COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of maize MIR604 poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands;
- COGEM abstains from giving advice on the potential risks of incidental consumption since a food/feed assessment is carried out by other organisations.