Enlarge Genetically modified test plants at a biotechnology lab at Litoral University in Santa Fe, Argentina, August 2012.
The EU's food safety agency challenged
its doubters on Monday, making available all the scientific
information used to clear a genetically modified corn which
a French researcher had linked to cancer.
While EFSA had previously provided such information on request,
EFSA, which reviews the use and authorization of such crops and foodstuffs, in November rejected outright a report by Gilles-Eric Séralini of the University of Caen which had linked NK603 to cancer found in laboratory rats.
It said at the time that Séralini's work failed to meet "acceptable scientific standards" and accordingly it had no reason to review its assessment of NK603, made by US agri-food giant Monsanto.
The EU also demanded that Séralini release more details of his work but he responded in kind, calling on EFSA to open up its data first.
The EFSA said on Monday that the NK603 data was being made available (Rodent Feeding Study With Glyphosate Formulations and GM Maize NK603 - Séralini et al. - 2012 Publication - Final review) as part of an initiative to make its overall workings more transparent.
Monday's move,
Environmental groups have been very critical of the EFSA, saying it was not doing enough on its own to test GM foods and gave Monday's announcement a guarded welcome.
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