Molecular characterization of soybean A2704-12

In April 2006, COGEM advised negatively on the application EFSA/GMO/NL/2005/18. The application concerned the import and processing for use in feed and food of genetically modified herbicide tolerant soybean A2704-12. COGEM stated that there was a lack of information regarding the molecular analysis. In particular, the data presented on the 5’ flanking sequence were incomplete. On basis of the data available it could not be ruled out that new chimeric open reading frames (ORFs) were created due to the insertion. New putative ORFs could theoretically give rise to potential toxic or allergenic products. In view of this deficiency in the molecular analysis, COGEM advised negatively on this application.
As a result of this comment, EFSA asked the applicant, Bayer CropScience, for additional information regarding the molecular characterization.
Based on this information, COGEM is of the opinion that the molecular characterization has been performed adequately and the data presented indicate that newly formed ORFs do not code for any known toxic or allergic products. Therefore, COGEM reconsidered her previous opinion and advices positively on this application.