Advice on the renewal of import and processing of GM soybean MON 87708 × MON 89788 × A5547-127

COGEM has been requested to evaluate the environmental risks associated with the renewal of the authorisation for import of genetically modified (GM) soybean MON 87708 × MON 89788 × A5547-127. This cotton line expresses the dmo, pat and cp4 epsps genes, conferring tolerance to dicamba, glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate containing herbicides respectively.

The renewal application includes updated bioinformatics analyses, a literature review and the results of the mandatory post‑market environmental monitoring that has been carried out since 2021.

The molecular characterisation of DBN8205 meets the criteria of COGEM, and no indications for potential environmental risks were identified. In the Netherlands, feral soybean populations do not occur. Hybridisation of soybean with other species is impossible in the Netherlands. There are no indications that the introduced traits allow GM soybean DBN8205 to survive in the Dutch environment.

COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of GM soybean MON 87708 × MON 89788 × A5547-127 poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands. COGEM abstains from giving advice on the potential risks of incidental consumption since a food/feed assessment is carried out by other organisations.