Statement on a request from the European Commission related to an emergency measure notified by France under Article 34 of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 to prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified maize MON 810

Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated the documentation submitted by France under Article 34 of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 in support of its request to prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified maize MON 810 in the EU. Neither the scientific publications cited in the documentation submitted by France with relevance to maize MON 810 nor the arguments put forward by France reveal any new information that would invalidate the previous risk assessment conclusions and risk management recommendations made by the EFSA GMO Panel. EFSA considers that the previous GMO Panel risk assessment conclusions and risk management recommendations on maize MON 810 remain valid and applicable. Therefore, EFSA concludes that, based on the documentation submitted by France, there is no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health or the environment, that would support the adoption of an emergency measure on the cultivation of maize MON 810 under Article 34 of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.