EU approves three GMO corn varieties for feed, food use

EUROPE – The European Commission (EC) has authorised the use of three genetically modified (GM) corn varieties for animal feed and human food across the European Union after a prolonged deadlock among member states. 

The approval follows a comprehensive scientific evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and is valid for ten years.

The authorisation, announced this week, marks a significant development in the EU’s approach to GM crops. 

While the decision permits the import and processing of the GM corn for food and feed, it explicitly excludes their cultivation within the trading bloc. 

European farmers will not be allowed to grow the varieties on EU soil, but processors and feed manufacturers may now use them under strict regulatory conditions.

The EC stepped in to make the final call after EU member states failed to reach a qualified majority either in support of or against the authorisation. 

This impasse triggered the Commission’s legal responsibility to decide, based on EFSA’s safety conclusions.

Though the EC’s release did not disclose the specific identities of the three GM corn varieties, the Commission emphasised that each underwent a rigorous risk assessment covering potential impacts on human and animal health and environmental safety. 

The decision also mandates full compliance with the EU’s stringent labelling and traceability laws throughout the food and feed supply chain.

The European Commission noted that EFSA’s expert panel had thoroughly examined each GM corn variety and found no risks to public health or the environment when used as intended.

This decision comes amid growing attention on agricultural biotechnology within Europe, a region known for its cautious stance on GMOs. 

EU policy has long been shaped by consumer scepticism and environmental concerns, making the approval process for GM products both complex and highly regulated.

FSA confirms GM soybeans’ safety 

Meanwhile, similar regulatory momentum has been observed in the UK.

In a related announcement, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) confirmed the safety of a genetically modified soybean—MON 87705 x MON 87708 x MON 89788—submitted for authorisation by Bayer CropScience.

The GM soybean is approved for import, processing, and use in food and feed, but not cultivation.

The UK assessment, published in FSA Research and Evidence, concluded that the GM soybean poses no safety concerns for human, animal, or environmental health. 

Scientific evaluation found that its genetic modifications—including altered fatty acid content—align with intended traits and do not present toxicity or allergenicity risks.

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