Statement on a request from the European Commission related to the emergency measure notified by Greece on genetically modified maize MON 810 according to Article 18 of Directive 2002/53/EC

Following a request of the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated the documentation submitted by Greece in support of its request for the prohibition of the placing on the market of the genetically modified maize MON 810 for cultivation according to Article 18 of Directive 2002/53/EC. All concerns on the safety of maize MON 810 related to human and animal health or the environment raised by Greece were already addressed in previous outputs of the EFSA or its GMO Panel on maize MON 810 or related Bt maize events expressing Cry1Ab protein. The concern pertaining to co-existence was not considered as this is not in the remit of EFSA. Therefore, EFSA concludes that, based on the documentation submitted by Greece, there is no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health or the environment, that would support the notification of an emergency measure under Article 18 of Directive 2002/53/EC and that would invalidate the previous EFSA GMO Panel risk assessments of maize MON 810.