Jun 26, 2009

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Questions and Answers

Bt maize: Approval, cultivation and coexistence

How much Bt maize is grown worldwide and in which countries?

Bt maize is extensively cultivated mainly in the USA – on almost 20 million hectares in 2009. It has been approved for cultivation there since 1995. Bt maize is also used to an appreciable extent in Argentina, South Africa, Canada and the Philippines. Worldwide the total area under genetically modified maize is 42 million hectares. About three quarters of this is maize with one or more types of resistance against pests – i.e. Bt maize.

In Europe, cultivation of Bt maize is concentrated in Spain. Growing on an area of 78 000 hectares (2009), it represents 22% of the Spanish maize production. Farmers have also sown Bt maize in Portugal, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, and Slovakia, although on considerably smaller areas.

Is Bt maize approved for cultivation in Germany as well?

Genetically modified plants are approved at European level. Bt maize MON810 developed by the agrobiotechnology company Monsanto is at present the only genetically modified plant that may be cultivated in the EU.

GM maize is a politically controversial issue in some EU countries. After France, Austria and three other countries, Germany announced a national ban on the cultivation of MON810 in spring 2009, which is still effective in 2010.

MON810 was approved in 1998 in the EU according the then-valid gene technology law – for cultivation for both food and animal feed. The approval was valid to April 2007. In the meantime an application for renewal of the approval has been submitted. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has again investigated the safety of MON810 maize. Until the final decision on approval for MON810 is made, it remains marketable.

Varietal approval is required in addition to GM authorisation. More than hundret maize varieties derived from MON810 maize are now inscribed in the common European catalogue of varieties.

How much Bt maize is cultivated in Germany?

Since 2005, farmers in Germany have had to register all land on which genetically modified crops are grown in an official site register, so the exact cultivation figures are known. The area of land under Bt maize cultivation increased from 350 hectares in 2005, the first year, to 3171 hectares in 2008. For the cultivation season in 2009, 3600 hectares were registered but were invalid since the veto of MON 810.

Can an individual EU member state decide to ban cultivation of Bt maize?

Various EU states as e.g. Austria, Greece, Hungary, France (since the beginning of 2008) and Germany (since 2009) have abrogated a further approval for MON 810 and issued a nationwide veto. They have invoked a clause enshrined in EU law which permits such bans if new scientific evidence is presented which casts doubt on the previous safety assessment. These national bans have been examined several times by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), most recently at the end of 2008. According to EFSA, the latest safety research findings provide no basis for withdrawing approval for MON810.

Nevertheless, no cultivation vetoes had to be withdrawn since the cabinet did not have the necessary political majority in order to force the repeal of the cultivation veto.

Is Bt maize used as food in Germany?

There is a range of other Bt maize varieties which are not approved for cultivation in Europe, but rather for use as food and fodder. However, products containing genetically modified maize are seldom found on the European market. Normally, import approval is sought because it is the prerequisite for “accidental, technically unavoidable admixtures” to be tolerated up to a maximum of 0.9% in agricultural imports.

If Bt maize is used as fodder, can traces of it turn up in animal products?

According to the current state of research, no gene or protein fragments from genetically modified plants are found in edible animal products. For example, milk from cows that have been fed on genetically modified maize is no different from milk which has been produced without the use of genetically modified fodder.

Can the consumer tell whether a product contains genetically modified maize?

A far-reaching labelling requirement enables consumers to choose between GM and GM-free products. It applies to all products derived from genetically modified plants. Adventitious, technically unavoidable GMO traces below the 0.9 percent EU threshold are exempt from the labelling requirement. To avoid the accidental presence of GMOs in GM-free produce, genetically modified crops are subject to special regulations regarding their cultivation, storage, transportation and the processing of harvested products.

Meat products from animals fed on genetically modified plants do not have to be labelled as such.

"Coexistence" is often mentioned in discussions about growing Bt maize. What does it mean?

The cultivation of Bt maize is permitted in the EU only if does not have a detrimental effect on GM-free farming practices. Bt maize cultivation, including the sowing, storage, transportation and processing of the harvested products, is therefore subject to certain restrictions which aim to prevent uncontrolled contamination or accumulation. The aim is to enable farmers to continue producing agricultural products and food which have been produced without the use genetic engineering over the long term. However, nature is an open system. Coexistence cannot therefore guarantee that products are 100% GM-free. Minute traces of genetically modified plants are therefore permitted, but only on condition that three requirements are met: the traces must be adventitious and technically unavoidable, they must remain below the 0.9 percent threshold and the only traces permitted are those from GM plants which are approved in the EU and verifiably safe. This understanding of coexistence is a cornerstone of the European genetic engineering legislation, which was agreed by a large majority in the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The German red-green government at the time also voted in favour of it.

When the maize flowers, the pollen is dispersed by the wind. Won’t the Bt maize outcross to conventional maize?

During flowering, which is generally a short period in early July, maize produces a vast amount of pollen grains. However, they are relatively heavy and tend to pollinate only those plants closest to them. Since maize flowers are not particularly attractive, few insects are drawn to them and so play virtually no part in pollination. As a rule, significant outcrossings of Bt maize to conventional neighbouring crops are restricted to a small margin at the edge of the field.

If a farmer wants to grow genetically modified maize, what regulations does he have to comply with?

Since 2009 the cultivation of Bt maize is prohibited in Germany, however, since 2008 there are cultivation regulations. According to that, a minimum distance has to be kept between a field with bt maize and the closest conventional maize field. A minimum separation distance must be observed between a field of Bt maize and the nearest conventional maize field. In Germany a separation distance of 150 metres has been stipulated, rising to 300 metres for organic maize fields. In addition, farmers growing Bt maize must comply with further regulations: for example, the machines for sowing and harvesting must be kept spotlessly clean and seed and harvested material must be stored separately from equivalent conventional products. Furthermore, the Bt maize site must be registered in a public site register at the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) at least three months prior to sowing.

Is the prescribed minimum distance of 150 metres between Bt maize and conventional neighbouring fields appropriate?

Numerous trials have been conducted in recent years to determine the outcrossing rates in maize. These have shown that generally at a distance of just 20 metres, or in isolated cases 30 or 50 metres, traces of Bt maize remain below the statutory 0.9 percent threshold. The 150 metre minimum separation distance incorporates a considerable safety margin. It has been calculated to ensure that, in general, outcrossings from Bt maize to neighbouring fields are around 0.1 percent and therefore well below the 0.9 percent threshold.

Who is responsible if incrossings of Bt maize occur in conventional crops despite the 150 metre separation distance?

A farmer who grows Bt maize is liable for any resultant economic losses incurred on neighbouring farms. Losses may be incurred if a conventional neighbouring field contains traces of Bt maize above the 0.9 percent threshold, which would require the harvest to be labelled as “genetically modified”. The Bt-maize-growing farmer is liable even if he has complied with all the regulations. If no single individual can be held responsible, all Bt maize growers in the region are liable.

We frequently hear that maize pollen can be carried by the wind over very long distances.

During certain weather conditions (strong winds or upwinds), maize pollen can be transported over great distances. This “dilutes” the pollen and spreads it over a large area. All the studies indicate that in all probability, appreciable incrossings of Bt maize as a result of long-distance pollen dispersal can be ruled out.