EU Commission To Decide On GM Potato
17 July 2007 Germany-based BASF applied to Swedish authorities for use of the potato for industrial purposes, such as making paper.
Following an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which stated the unlikelihood of the proposed use of the GM potato having a negative effect on human or animal health, or on the environment, Barbara Helfferich – Commission spokesperson on the environment – said that the Commission will support the cultivation of Amflora with a formal approval in the coming months.
Environmental groups insist that the GM potato, which contains a gene that can convey resistance to antibiotics, could contaminate the food chain and future crops through incomplete harvesting, which would leave potatoes to grow back in future years and contaminate non-GM crops. BASF has acknowledged that contamination of the food chain is possible. It has also applied to use the same potato in food and animal feed.
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