GM potato decision passes to Commission
The European Commission is to take a decision on whether or not to authorise the cultivation of a genetically modified (GM) variety of potato in the EU, following an even split in the EU Agriculture Council on the matter. The German chemicals company BASF applied to the Swedish authorities to place the potato on the market for use in industrial processes such as making paper. The GM potato Amflora yields high volumes of starch. At the Council meeting on 16 July, Austria, Ireland and Italy led the countries opposing the authorisation, while Germany, the UK and Sweden were reported to be among those in favour. A number of countries also abstained. EU regulations state that as no qualified majority was reached, the decision will now pass to the European Commission. Barbara Helfferich, Commission spokesperson on the environment, said that the Commission will support the cultivation of the potato, with the formal approval likely in the coming months. The Commission will base its decision on an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The opinion stated that it is unlikely that the GM potato would have a negative effect on human or animal health, or on the environment, in the framework of its proposed use. Some environment groups have however argued that the GM potato could contaminate the food chain and future crops. Particular causes for concern are a gene that can convey resistance to antibiotics, and the risk that some potatoes will not be harvested, leaving them to grow back in later years and contaminate non-GM crops. BASF has also applied to use the same potato in food and animal feed, and has acknowledged that contamination of the food chain is possible.