Questions about GM corn raised

Austria is raising some concerns regarding the commercial cultivation of generically modified maize Mon 810. In a note to the Council of the European Union, Austria stated that Mon810 should not be planted yet in the light of prevalent scientific uncertainties about possible effects of the GM maize, as well as, the absence of a meticulous plan to monitor these effects.

Among the scientific concerns are" shortcomings in using the recombinant E coli Bt protein instead of the plant for toxicity and digestion studies, the need to study possible secondary metabolic changes in a GM plant as a result of the insertion of a foreign gene; and the need to apply better scientifically sound methods of chemical analysis which can provide data on the whole food.

Until the questions are addressed, Austria call for the postponement until some problems are addressed, like the open questions concerning risk assessment and a suitable monitoring program. Austria emphasizes that a review of the "old products" in 2006, as required by the European Union Law whereby GMO approvals have to be reviewed after 10 years.

For countries which are considering the approval of Mon810, the questions being put forward by Austria and the concerns it raised should be taken seriously and they are encouraged to take a similar precautionary approach in order to protect public health and the environment.

Recently, the commission and some member states received a comprehensive documentation from non-government organizations (NGOs) concerning genetically modified Bt maize – Maiseline Mon810, which may now be legally cultivated in member states.