Import and processing of insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122

The present application (EFSA/GMO/BE/2013/118) concerns import and processing for use in feed and food of genetically modified maize MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122. Cultivation is not part of this application.
Maize MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 expresses the cry1A.105, cry1F, cry2Ab2, cry3Bb1, cry34Ab1, cry35Ab1, cp4 epsps and pat genes. As a result it is resistant to certain lepidopteran and coleopteran insects. In addition, the maize line is tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium containing herbicides.
MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 was produced by conventional crossbreeding. Previously, COGEM issued positive opinions on import and processing of MON89427, MON89034, 1507, MON88017 and 59122. COGEM also advised positively on cultivation of 1507 and 1507×59122. The molecular characterization of MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 is updated and meets the criteria of COGEM.
During its long domestication process, maize has lost its ability to survive in the wild. In the Netherlands, the appearance of maize volunteers is rare and establishment of volunteers in the wild has never been reported. There are no reasons to assume that the introduced traits will allow maize MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 to establish feral populations. The introduced sequences cannot spread to other species since wild relatives of maize are not present in Europe.
COGEM abstains from giving advice on the potential risks of incidental consumption because a food/feed assessment is already carried out by other organisations. COGEM is of the opinion that incidental spillage of MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 poses a negligible risk to the environment.
In view of the above, COGEM considers the environmental risks associated with import and processing of maize MON87427xMON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 to be negligible.