GM CONTAMINATION
October 1st, 2003
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice has clarified national government powers over the authorisation of novel foods containing GM material. In a case involving Monsanto Italia and the Italian government, the ECJ ruled that the presence of GM protein residues in novel foods does not prevent them being cleared for sale under a "simplified procedure," but only where there is no risk to human health. If an EU Member State had "detailed grounds" to suspect a risk, it could temporarily restrict or suspend sales though.
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice has clarified national government powers over the authorisation of novel foods containing GM material. In a case involving Monsanto Italia and the Italian government, the ECJ ruled that the presence of GM protein residues in novel foods does not prevent them being cleared for sale under a "simplified procedure," but only where there is no risk to human health. If an EU Member State had "detailed grounds" to suspect a risk, it could temporarily restrict or suspend sales though.
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