Renewal of the authorisation for import and processing of genetically modified maize MON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 and part of its subcombinations

• The present application (GMFF-2022-9170) concerns the renewal of the authorisation for import and processing for use in feed and food of genetically modified (GM) maize MON89034x1507x MON88017x59122 and part of its subcombinations;
• GM maize MON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 and part of its subcombinations were previously authorised for import and processing in 2013;
• MON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 maize was developed by conventional crossbreeding of GM maize MON89034, 1507, MON88017 and 59122;
• GM maize MON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 expresses the genes cry1A.105, cry2Ab2 (MON89034), cry1F (1507), cp4epsps, cry3Bb1 (MON88017), cry34Ab1, cry35Ab1 (59122) and pat (1507 and 59122). The cry-genes confer resistance to insect pests, and the cp4epsps and pat genes confer tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium containing herbicides, respectively;
• In the Netherlands, feral maize populations have never been observed and the appearance of volunteers – maize not deliberately planted – is rare;
• The wild relative of maize (teosinte) is not present in het natural environment of the Netherlands, therefore hybridisation of GM maize with other species is not possible;
• The molecular characterisation of maize MON89034x1507xMON88017x59122 has been updated and meets the criteria of COGEM;
• The updated bioinformatics analyses, literature review and monitoring reports do not give any indication of a potential environmental risk;
• COGEM is of the opinion that import and processing of maize MON89034x1507x MON88017x59122 and its subcombinations poses a negligible risk to the environment in the Netherlands;
• COGEM abstains from giving advice on the potential risks of incidental consumption since other organisations carry out a food/feed assessment.