Import and processing of insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize MON863 x MON810 x NK603

The present application concerns the commercial import and processing for use in feed and food of a hybrid genetically modified maize line. Cultivation is not part of the application. The hybrid maize line is developed through traditional breeding of the genetically modified maize lines MON863, MON810 and NK603. These parental lines contain genes (cry3Bb1, cry1A(b) and cp4 epsps) conferring resistance to certain coleopteran and lepidopteran insects, and tolerance to herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate. In the Netherlands, no wild relatives of maize are present and the appearance of volunteers is never a problem under Dutch conditions. Establishment of maize plants in the wild has never been observed. There are no reasons to assume that the inserted traits will increase the now absent potential of the maize line to establish feral populations. Therefore, COGEM is of the opinion that incidental spillage of the hybrid maize line will pose no risk to the environment in the Netherlands. The inserted genes and their gene products have a history of safe use in maize lines and interactions between recombinant gene products are not expected. Furthermore, it is sufficiently proven that no toxic or allergenic products are formed as a result of the crossing of the three genetically modified maize lines. In view of the aforementioned, COGEM is of the opinion that the risks for the environment and human health associated with the import and processing of the hybrid maize line MON863 x MON810 x NK603 are negligible.