Commission
authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feedCommission Press release August 31 2005
EU approval process and documents
Commission
authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed
Commission Press release August
31 2005
Commission
Decision of 31 August 2005 concerning the placing on the market of an oilseed
rape product (Brassica napus L., GT73 line) genetically modified for tolerance
to the herbicide glyphosate
In
Official Journal L 228 2005 (all languages)
COMMISSION
DECISION 2005/465/EC of 22 June 2005 concerning the placing on the market, in
accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council,
of an oilseed rape product (Brassica napus L., GT73 line) genetically modified
for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate
In
Official Journal L 164 ( all languages)
Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2005/465/EC of 22 June 2005 (Official Journal
of the European Union L 164 of 24 June 2005):
The publication of Decision 2005/465/EC is hereby declared
null and void.
In
Official Journal L 165 ( all languages)
(For legal reasons: Additional technical guidelines for the prevention
of spillage had been included, which have not been submitted to the Standing
Committee and the Council before, hence need to be approved in addition)
Greenpeace
report: Spread of genetically engineered canola contamination across Japan
(May 2005)
Bio-Journal:
Results of a nationwide survey on alien GM canola growing wild in Japan
EU
Cordis news: Majority of EU Environment Ministers vote against Monsanto's oilseed
rape (21 December 2004)
"19 out of the 25 Environment Ministers who met in Brussels on 20 December
voted against approval of the GT73 oilseed rape, genetically modified (GM) by
Monsanto in order to resist its own herbicide, glyphosate. As the qualified
majority of 232 votes required for adopting or rejecting a Commission proposal
was not reached, this leaves the final decision to approve GT73 to the Commission.
The Commission has already stated that it believes the introduction of this
product to the Community market for industrial processing and animal feed should
be authorised. "
FOE:
Overview on vote of member states
Draft
decision proposed by the Commission on the approval of GT73 for use as food
and feed (September 2004)
EU
Cordis news: EU blocks Monsanto's GM rapeseed
(17 June 2004)
EU
Summary Notification SNIF - Placing on the market Roundup Ready oilseed
rape derived from line GT73
EFSA:
Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms
on a request from the Commission related to the Notification (Reference
C/NL/98/11) for the placing on the market of herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape
GT73, for import and processing, under Part C of Directive 2001/18/EC from Monsanto,
February 2004
UK
Defra summary of concerns on GT73 (July 2004)
Expresses concerns on animal feed safety and rejects EFSA assessment: "...unable
to support the claim that GT73 is as safe as conventional oilseed rape for use
in animal feed."
Makes detailed proposals on post market monitoring: "Prior to the first
import of GT73 oilseed rape into the European Community for marketing purposes
the consent holder shall submit to the Commission and to the competent authorities
of the Member states a proposal for active monitoring for spillage of GT73 oilseed
rape seed during import, transportation and processing and include tests for
the establishment of feral populations of GT73 oilseed rape between the point
of import and final destination. The plan should also include appropriate emergency
plans should such populations be identified.”
UK
ACRE Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
Advice on a notification for marketing of herbicide tolerant GM oilseed rape,
24 September 2003
General information and approval in non EU countries 
Reports
on spread of GM oilseed rape in Japanese ports as result of spilled imports
Even though the approval sought for GT73 is not for cultivation but for import
only, experience in Japanese ports shows that the GM oilseed rape cannot be
prevented from unintended release and spread into the environment.
View
Pictures
AG-Bios
Database on event MON-ØØØ73-7 (GT73, RT73)
The herbicide-tolerant canola line GT73 (synonym RT73) was developed to allow
for the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup®,
as a weed control option. In order to obtain field tolerance to glyphosate herbicide,
two genes, CP4 EPSPS and goxv247, were introduced into B. napus cv. Westar by
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.
The canola line GT73 contains a second gene that codes for a modified version
of glyphosate oxidase (GOX) enzyme that is ubiquitous in nature. The goxv247
gene inserted into GT73 was isolated from strain LBAA of the bacterium Ochrobactrum
anthropi. Glyphosate oxidase (GOX) enzyme accelerates the normal breakdown of
the herbicide glyphosate into two non-toxic compounds, aminomethylphosphonic
acid (AMPA) and glyoxylate.
Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA
Docket no. 98-089-2 Monsanto co. Determination of Nonregulated status for canola
genetically engineered for glyphosate tolerance 1999, pp1-33.
US
FDA Biotechnology Consultation Note
Monsanto's Glyphosate Tolerant Canola Line GT73, September 26, 1995
Background information
Greenpeace
comments on GT73 (October 2004)
Austrian
Office for the Environment (UBA): Risk Assessment of GMO products in the EU
Detailed analysis of toxicity assessment, allergenicity assessment and substantial
equivalence in practice (July 2004)
Institute
for Science in Society: No to GM Oilseed Rape GT73 (September 2004)
Description of GT73 and why it should be rejected by Prof. Joe Cummins, Dr.
Mae-Wan Ho and Lim Li Ching