Additional advice on import and processing of herbicide tolerant soybean 356043

Recently, EFSA published its opinion for placing on the market of genetically modified herbicide tolerant soybean line 356043, expressing the gat4601 and gm-hra genes. EFSA concludes that food and feed uses, import and processing of soybean 356043 are unlikely to have any adverse effect on human and animal health and the environment.
In 2007 COGEM did not advise positively on the import and processing of soybean 356043. Although the environmental risks were negligibly small in the opinion of COGEM, the molecular characterization was incomplete. Besides, COGEM had its reservations on the quality of the toxicity studies performed and questioned some aspects of the general surveillance (GS) plan. Based on comments and opinions submitted by Member States, EFSA requested the applicant to provide additional information. The new information has been incorporated in the current EFSA opinion.
The revised molecular characterization and GS plan fulfill the criteria as laid down by COGEM. As a food/feed safety assessment is carried out by other organizations, COGEM did not assess new information concerning risks on incidental consumption in this case. In conclusion COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of soybean line 356043 pose a negligible risk to the environment.