EU investigates accidental release of unauthorised GMO

The Commission and member states are investigating the potential risks from the unintended distribution of unauthorised genetically modified maize Bt10 in the EU.

The Commission has requested in-depth information from Swiss biotech company Syngenta concerning its maize variety Bt10, which has found its way into EU markets despite being unauthorised for distribution within the bloc. 

Eight kilogrammes of the unauthorised maize variety Bt10 were shipped for research purposes to France and two kilogrammes to Spain from the United States between 2001 and 2004. The seeds were mixed with the authorised maize variety Bt11. In addition, the Commission estimates that 1,000 tonnes of Bt10 food and feed products have also entered the EU market since 2001.

The Commission announced on 1 April that it expected further information from Syngenta next week about the molecular characterisation of Bt10, a specific detection method to trace this potentially hazardous type of maize and confirmation that all Bt10 plantings and products have been either destroyed or isolated for destruction.

The Commission is particularly concerned about the presence of a gene in Bt10 which confers resistance against the antibiotic ampicillin. But Syngenta claims that the gene is inactive in Bt10.

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