Import and processing of herbicide tolerant genetically modified maize MON87419
- The present application (EFSA-GMO-NL-2017-140) concerns the authorisation for import and processing for use in feed and food of genetically modified (GM) maize MON87419;
- Maize MON87419 was produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation with two separate T-DNA cassettes. T-DNA I contains the dmo and pat expression cassettes and T-DNA II contains the cp4 epsps expression cassette;
- Subsequently, crossing, segregation, screening and selection were used to isolate those plants that contain the dmo and pat gene expression cassettes (T-DNA I) and do not contain the cp4 epsps expression cassette (T-DNA II);
- This resulted in the MON87419 maize GM line which expresses the dmo and pat genes conferring tolerance to dicamba and glufosinate-ammonium containing herbicides;In the Netherlands, feral maize populations have never been observed and the appearance of volunteers is rare;
- In the Netherlands, wild relatives of maize are absent and hybridisation of maize with other species is therefore not possible;The molecular characterisation of maize MON87419 meets the criteria of COGEM;
- There are no indications that the introduced traits alter the fitness of maize MON87419 under natural conditions;
- There are no reasons to assume that the introduced traits will allow GM maize MON87419 to survive in the Dutch environment;
- COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of maize MON87419 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.