Abstract: . . .  the production of food, feed and seed, it is practically impossible to achieve products that are 100% pure. The current EU labelling provisions already addresses this problem by providing for a 1% threshold for adventitious presence of traces of approved GM material and a basic element of our legislation on seeds is to provide purity criteria to ensure legal certainty for seed producers and farmers. Page 7 7 The present proposal also takes into account the technically unavoidable traces of GM material. Apart from providing for the possibility of establishing a labelling threshold, it sets up specific conditions under which technically unavoidable presence of . . .
. . .  labelling threshold, it sets up specific conditions under which technically unavoidable presence of unauthorised GMOs could be permitted. In the EU, the Scientific Committees have already assessed a number of GMOs and concluded that they do not pose a danger to the environment or to human health. However, these GMOs are still pending final approval and some of them have now been awaiting approval for quite some time. The proposal allows for these GMOs which have received a positive opinion from an EU Scientific Committee to be present in a food or feed up to a maximum of 1%.  . . .
. . .  Traceability – European Commissioner David Byrne Authorisation Procedure In order to streamline and improve the efficiency of the current authorisation procedure for GM foods, we envisage that the European Food Authority will carry out the scientific risk assessment. The procedure will cover both the environmental, human and animal health aspects of GM food and feed. Companies wishing to market a GM food or feed are required to submit an application to the European Food Authority. Apart from scientific data to demonstrate the safety of the product, the application also has to include a method for detection. The detection method is to be validated by the European Reference Laboratory . . .
. . .  integrated part of the strategic vision which I hope will contribute to a rational and balanced debate about the future of biotechnology in Europe and lead to increased public acceptance of the use of biotechnology . May I thank the Presidency again for their initiative in organising this informal Council around the theme of new technologies in agriculture . I regard this as an important input into the wider debate the Commission has initiated about the future potential of life sciences and biotechnology . Page 5 5 Annex Summary details of draft Regulations on GM Food/Feed and Traceability – European Commissioner David Byrne Authorisation . . .
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