Brussels breaks ground with go-ahead for modified potato

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 3.3.10
Publication Date 03/03/2010
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The European Commission announced on the 2 March 2010 its intention to come up with a proposal by the summer of 2010 to allow more choice to Member States in deciding whether to cultivate GMO's.

Under the current legal framework, as decided by the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission has adopted two decisions concerning the Genetically Modified Amflora potato: the first authorises the cultivation of Amflora in the EU for industrial use, and the second relates to the use of Amflora's starch by-products as feed.

The European Commission also adopted on the 2 March 2010 three decisions on the placing on the market of three GM maize products for food and feed uses but not for cultivation. All five authorisations were subjected to the highest scrutiny, ensuring all concerns regarding the presence of an antibiotic resistance marker gene are fully addressed. The Decision to authorise the cultivation of Amflora is the end of a process which started in Sweden in January 2003 and is based on a considerable volume of sound science.

Related Links
BBC News, 2.3.10: GM potato cleared for EU farming http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8545503.stm
European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/222: Commission announces upcoming proposal on choice for Member States to cultivate or not GMO's and approves 5 decisions on GMO's http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/222&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
ANSA, 2.3.10: EU greenlight to GM foods meets with ire in Italy http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2010/03/02/visualizza_new.html_1709902802.html
EurActiv, 3.3.10: Commission gives green light to genetically-modified potato http://www.euractiv.com/cap/commission-gives-green-light-gen-news-300965
Spiegel Online International, 3.3.10: GM Potato Approval 'A Big Step for Germany' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,681507,00.html
BASF: Biotechnology http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/products-and-industries/biotechnology/index
BASF: Press Release, 2.3.10: European Commission approves Amflora starch potato http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/function/conversions:/publish/content/products-and-industries/biotechnology/images/PI_Amflora_179_10.pdf
BlogActiv.eu, 3.3.10: Commission breaks impasse on GMOs http://michaelberendt.blogactiv.eu/2010/03/03/commission-breaks-impasse-on-gmos/?utm_source=EurActiv+Newsletter&utm_campaign=691d5756b8-Bmail&utm_medium=email

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