EC approves first GM crop in a decade
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By Ned Stafford
The European Commission has authorised cultivation of a new GM crop for the first time in 12 years, approving BASF’s genetically modified potato Amflora for industrial use. The move has given GM advocates hope that a backlog of applications for other GM crops will also be authorised.
In addition to giving German chemical giant BASF its long-sought approval for Amflora, genetically modified to produce pure amylopectin starch for technical applications in the paper, textile and adhesives industries, the commission on 2 March issued a complementary authorisation covering use of the potato’s starch by-products as feed. The commission also announced authorisations for three GM maize products – from Monsanto, Syngenta and Pioneer – to be placed on the market for food and feed uses but not for cultivation.
Morten Nielsen, director of green biotechnology at the European Association for Bioindustries (EuropaBio), described the authorisations as the EU’s return to ‘sound policy...
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