Peter Mandelson, Leaked Greenpeace study only available to media and other advocacy madness
Compiled by C.S. Prakash, Ph.D.
July 9, 2007
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C.S. Prakash
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson’s speech to the EU
Abstract: “European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has today given a speech to representatives of the European biotech industry entitled "Biotechnology and EU Trade Policy" for the "European Biotechnology Info Day". Mandelson argued that it was time for Europe to reassess its skepticism towards genetically modified (GMO) foods and trust scientists who have deemed them safe or risk more international lawsuits. The main points of interest can be summarised as follows:
* Mandelson argued that biotechnology carried risks and those risks must be properly assessed and managed but that it was reasonable to insist that when the process has run its course people should "stand by the science".
* Mandelson said EU policies would be watched closely by its trading partners, which were moving ahead with their own GMO policies - and leaving Europe behind.
* Not approving GMO products seen as safe by scientists could also harm Europe's livestock industry, which, he said, depends heavily on imported animal feed and much of which was biotech grain-based material from the United States.
* He concluded his remarks by saying that isolation from international trade in agricultural biotech products "that have passed credible safety standards simply may not be a viable option for the EU and we have to understand this reality."
Please find below link to the full transcript of the speech”
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/mandelson/speeches_articles/sppm157_en.htm
Mandelson is not a known friend of agbiotech so his comments were viewed askance by some, and as a welcome change by others…
Greenpeace and the French research institute CRIIGEN Roundup Ready Corn Claims
Abstract: “Greenpeace and the French research institute CRIIGEN have RE-ANALZED data from Monsanto's rat study with Roundup Ready corn (event NK603) and are claiming that Monsanto and regulatory authorities in the EU are "overlooking the threats and not assessing the risks at all." The release states the report will be posted to the CRIIGEN website in the coming days or can be obtained directly from Prof. Seralini or Katharine Mill of Greenpeace (e-mails at bottom).
There is a previous rebuttal available here:
Seralini, G.E., Cellier, D., & de Ventomois, J.P. (2007)
New Analysis of a Rat Feeding Study with a Genetically Modified Maize Reveals Signs of Hepatorenal Toxicity Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 52, 3, pp -- http://www.springerlink.com/content/02648wu132m07804/fulltext.html AND http://www.botanischergarten.ch/Pusztai/Seralini-Maize-2007.pdf
Also here:
http://gmopundit.blogspot.com/search?q=seralini”
More on the CRIIGEN study
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/press_release/pr_efsa_maize_Mon863.html
EFSA reaffirms its risk assessment of genetically modified maize MON 863
Last updated: 28 June 2007
Publication Date: 28 June 2007
At the request of the European Commission (EC), EFSA has examined a paper by Séralini et al. on the statistical evaluation of a 90-day feeding study in animals with genetically modified maize MON 863, to identify any consequences for EFSA's risk assessment of the safety of MON 863. The paper presents an alternative statistical analysis of the 90-day rat study that was considered in the original risk assessment. Following a detailed statistical review and analysis by an EFSA Task Force, EFSA's GMO Panel has concluded that this re-analysis of the data does not raise any new safety concerns.
At the request of the European Commission (EC), EFSA has examined a paper by Séralini et al. on the statistical evaluation of a 90-day feeding study in animals with genetically modified maize MON 863, to identify any consequences for EFSA's risk assessment of the safety of MON 863.[1] The paper presents an alternative statistical analysis of the 90-day rat study that was considered in the original risk assessment. Following a detailed statistical review and analysis by an EFSA Task Force, EFSA's GMO Panel has concluded that this re-analysis
of the data does not raise any new safety concerns.
EFSA undertook a series of actions to give a considered response to the European Commission on this issue:
* Member States (MS) were asked to provide any analyses and comments that may contribute to consideration of this issue.
* EFSA set up a Task Force of internal and external statistical experts to help assess the statistical methodology applied by authors of the publication in their re-analysis of the original data from the 90-day rat feeding study and to consider the contributions received from MS. As part of that work a meeting was held with the authors of the paper.
* EFSA's GMO Panel has reviewed all the available evidence.
Following this work, EFSA has responded to the Commission, published a statistical report and issued a scientific statement from its GMO Panel. The main conclusions are:
* The statistical analysis made by the authors of the paper did not take into account certain important statistical considerations. The assumptions underlying the statistical methodology employed by the authors led to misleading results.
* EFSA considers that the paper does not present a sound scientific justification in order to question the safety of MON 863 maize.
* Observed statistically significant differences reported by Monsanto, Séralini et al., and EFSA, were considered not to be biologically relevant. In the absence of any indications that the observed differences are indicative of adverse effects, the GMO Panel does not consider that this paper raises new issues with respect to the safety of MON 863 maize.
Therefore, the GMO Panel sees no reason to revise its previous Opinions that the MON 863 maize would not have an adverse effect in the context of its proposed use.
Prior to this most recent work, MON 863 maize has been subject to a comprehensive risk assessment by EFSA and by other authorities which did not identify any adverse effects on human and animal health or the environment. The 90-day rat study analysed by this paper is one
element of the comprehensive risk assessment of MON863 maize. In addition to the original Opinion in April 2004, this study has been reviewed again twice since then, prior to this recent work.
The letter to the Commission, the GMO Panel statement, EFSA statistical analysis of the Monsanto data are available on the EFSA website at the following links:
* Letter to the Commission at
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/about_efsa/structure/who_is_who/home_cgl/correspondence.html
* The GMO Panel statement at
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/gmo/statements0/gmo_statement_mon863_ratfeeding.html
* EFSA statistical analysis of the Monsanto data at
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/scientific_reports/statistical_analyses_MON863.html
