Decision paves way for imports of 1507 maize into the European Union
BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 3, 2006 - The EU Commission today announced that it has approved DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International's biotech maize known as 1507, for all food uses.
This decision, along with the November 2005 approval of 1507 maize for import and animal feed use, paves the way for grain and processed products with the 1507 trait to be imported in all 25 EU countries. 1507 maize is resistant to insects that damage maize crops around the world. "Today's decision is great news for farmers and for Pioneer," said Dean Oestreich, president, Pioneer. "This approval supports expanded choices for farmers and recognizes the safety and value of Pioneer biotech products worldwide."
This authorization follows the positive safety evaluation of 1507 maize by the European Food Safety Authority. Today's decision is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities in the coming days.
Planted in several markets including Argentina, Canada and the United States, 1507 maize offers broad in-plant insect protection against the European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm. It also helps reduce pesticide applications and, because it produces more grain on the same land area, it improves farm productivity and profitability ¾ sustainable agriculture in practice.
"1507 maize can help farmers protect their seed investment by minimizing the risk of insect damage, while maximizing the yield performance of Pioneer's superior seed products," said Oestreich.
Jointly developed by Pioneer and Dow AgroSciences LLC, and marketed as Herculex® I in the United States, maize hybrids with the 1507 trait have already been approved in 12 other countries around the world.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
Note to Editors:1. Human food use (Ref: EFSA/GMO/NL/2004/02) · Dossier submitted under Regulation (EC) 258/97 to the Dutch Competent Authority in February 2001 1 Dutch Competent Authority issued a positive safety assessment in November 2003
2 Dossier updated under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003
3 Dutch Competent Authority accepted updated dossier and forwarded to EFSA:
http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/gmo/gm_ff_applications/more_info/503/efsa_gmo_nl_2004_02_update1.pdf
· EFSA adopted a positive safety opinion on the dossier on 19 January 2005: http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/gmo/gmo_opinions/826_en.html
· Following a positive safety opinion from the GMO Panel of the European Food Safety Authority, the European Commission issued its Decision, recommending the approval of 1507 maize for human food use.
1 Vote at Regulatory Committee meeting on 3 June 2005 - no decision. Decision forwarded to Council on 5 October 2005.
2 Vote at EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 20 December 2005 - no decision. Decision passed back to Commission for adoption.
3 Commission adopted the Decision to approve the food use of 1507 maize on x February 2006 with publication of the decision in the EU Official Journal expected shortly.
4 Final approval permitting EU imports of 1507 maize for all food, feed and processing purposes will take effect once the Dutch Competent Authority gives official consent to dossier for the 'import and processing for feed' use.
2. Other 1507 maize dossiers in the EU approval process: Three dossiers for different EU approvals of 1507 maize were submitted: 'Import and Processing', 'Food' and 'Cultivation'. With the first two of these approvals previously given, imports for feed, food and processing purposes is approved in the EU. However, European farmers will only be able to enjoy the benefits from growing 1507 maize once the 'Cultivation' dossier receives EU approval. 1507 maize for 'Cultivation' has received a positive safety opinion from EFSA and is with the European Commission waiting to be forwarded for decision by the Regulatory Committee made up of representatives of the Member States.
3. Summary of safety of 1507 maize: "1507 maize meets the latest EU regulatory requirements, part of which were the condition for the termination of the EU moratorium on new GMO approvals":
· 1507 maize meets all the latest EU safety evaluations 1 Bt has a long history of safe use for more than 40 years, including by organic farmers
2 The Cry1F and PAT proteins expressed in 1507 maize are not toxic or allergenic to humans and animals
3 The Cry1F protein confers resistance to target insect pests and reduces the need for spraying
4 1507 maize contains no antibiotic resistance marker gene (Instead, the PAT protein conferring tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide was used as the selectable genetic marker.)
5 1507 maize poses no concerns with hybridisation with wild populations in the EU
6 1507 maize is substantially and nutritionally equivalent to, and as safe as, conventional maize
7 No adverse environmental impact of 1507 maize compared to conventional maize