Proposal for a Council Decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize MON 88017 x MON 810 (MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2010-06-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: food safety, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, health risk, labelling, maize, market approval

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 1.6.2010 
COM(2010)277 final 

2010/0153 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced 
from genetically modified maize MON 88017 x MON 810 (MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-
ØØ81Ø-6) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council 

(Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic) 
(Text with EEA relevance)

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The attached proposal for a Council Decision concerns food and feed containing, consisting 
of  or  produced  from  genetically  modified  maize  MON  88017  x  MON  810,  for  which  a 
request for placing on the market was submitted by Monsanto Europe S.A. to the competent 
authority of the Czech Republic on 29 November 2005, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 
on genetically modified food and feed.  

The attached proposal also concerns the placing on the market of products other than food and 
feed containing and consisting of MON 88017 x MON 810 maize for the same uses as any 
other maize with the exception of cultivation. 

On  21  July  2009,  the  European  Food  Safety  Authority  gave  a  favourable  opinion  in 
accordance with Articles 6 and 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. It considered that MON 
88017 x MON 810 maize is as safe as its non-genetically modified counterpart with respect to 
potential effects on human and animal health or the environment. Therefore it concluded that 
it  is  unlikely  that  the  placing  on  the  market  of  the  products  containing,  consisting  of,  or 
produced from MON 88017 x MON 810 maize as described in the application will have any 
adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended 
uses. 

Against this background, a draft Commission Decision authorising the placing on the Union 
market  of  products  containing,  consisting  of  or  produced  from  genetically  modified  MON 
88017 x MON 810 maize was submitted to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and 
Animal  Health,  on  9  February  2010,  for  vote.  The  Committee  delivered  no  opinion: 
13 Member States (183 votes) voted in favour, 10 Member States (112 votes) voted against, 
3 Member States (46 votes) abstained and 1 Member State (4 votes) was not represented. 

Consequently, pursuant to Article 35, paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and in 
accordance  with  Article  5  of  Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  modified  by  Council  Decision 
2006/512/EC, the Commission is required to submit to the Council a proposal relating to the 
measures to be taken, the Council having three months in which to act by a qualified majority, 
and inform the Parliament. 

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2010/0153 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced 
from genetically modified maize MON 88017 x MON 810 (MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-
ØØ81Ø-6) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council 

(Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic) 
(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 

Having  regard  to  Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  of  22  September  2003  on  genetically  modified  food  and  feed1,  and  in  particular 
Articles 7(3) and 19(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

On 29 November 2005, Monsanto Europe S.A. submitted to the competent authority 
of  the  Czech  Republic  an  application,  in  accordance  with  Articles  5  and  17  of 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003,  for  the  placing  on  the  market  of  foods,  food 
ingredients, and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from MON 88017 x MON 
810 maize ('the application'). 

The application also covers the placing on the market of products other than food and 
feed containing or consisting of MON 88017 x MON 810 maize for the same uses as 
any  other  maize  with  the  exception  of  cultivation.  Therefore,  in  accordance  with 
Articles  5(5)  and  17(5)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003,  it  includes  the  data  and 
information required by Annexes III and IV to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  12  March  2001  on  the  deliberate  release  into  the 
environment  of  genetically  modified  organisms  and  repealing  Council  Directive 
90/220/EEC2 and information and conclusions about the risk assessment carried out in 
accordance  with  the  principles  set  out  in  Annex  II  to  Directive  2001/18/EC.  It  also 
includes  a  monitoring  plan  for  environmental  effects  conforming  with  Annex  VII  to 
Directive 2001/18/EC. 

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OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1. 
OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1.  

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(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

On  21  July  2009,  the  European  Food  Safety  Authority  ('EFSA’)  gave  a  favourable 
opinion  in  accordance  with  Articles  6  and  18  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003.  It 
considered  that  MON  88017  x  MON  810  maize  is  as  safe  as  its  non-genetically 
modified counterpart with respect to potential effects on human and animal health or 
the  environment.  Therefore  it  concluded  that  it  is  unlikely  that  the  placing  on  the 
market  of  the  products  containing,  consisting  of,  or  produced  from  MON  88017  x 
MON 810 maize as described in the application ('the products') will have any adverse 
effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended 
uses3. In its opinion, EFSA considered all the  specific questions and concerns raised 
by  the  Member  States  in  the  context  of  the  consultation  of  the  national  competent 
authorities as provided for by Articles 6(4) and 18(4) of that Regulation. 

In  its  opinion,  EFSA  also  concluded  that  the  environmental  monitoring  plan, 
consisting of a general surveillance plan, submitted by the applicant is in line with the 
intended use of the products. 

Taking  into  account  those  considerations,  authorisation  should  be  granted  for  the 
products. 

A unique identifier should be assigned to each GMO as provided for in Commission 
Regulation  (EC)  No  65/2004  of  14  January  2004  establishing  a  system  for  the 
development and assignment of unique identifiers for genetically modified organisms4. 

On the basis of the EFSA opinion, no specific labelling requirements other than those 
provided for in Articles 13(1) and 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, appear to 
be  necessary  for  foods,  food  ingredients  and  feed  containing,  consisting  of,  or 
produced from MON 88017 x MON 810 maize. However, in order to ensure the use of 
the  products  within  the  limits  of  the  authorisation  provided  for  by  this  Decision,  the 
labelling  of  feed  containing  or  consisting  of  the  GMO  and  products  other  than  food 
and  feed  containing  or  consisting  of  the  GMO  for  which  authorisation  is  requested 
should be complemented by a clear indication that the products in question must not 
be used for cultivation. The authorisation holder should submit annual reports on the 
implementation  and  the  results  of  the  activities  set  out  in  the  monitoring  plan  for 
environmental  effects.  Those  results  should  be  presented  in  accordance  with 
Commission  Decision  2009/770/EC  of  13  October  2009  establishing  standard 
reporting  formats  for  presenting  the  monitoring  results  of  the  deliberate  release  into 
the environment of genetically modified organisms, as or in products, for the purpose 
of  placing  on  the  market,  pursuant  to  Directive  2001/18/EC  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council5. 

(8) 

Similarly, the EFSA opinion does not justify the imposition of specific conditions or 
restrictions for the placing on the market and/or specific conditions or restrictions for 
the use and handling, including post-market monitoring requirements for the use of the 
food  and  feed,  or  of  specific  conditions  for 
the  protection  of  particular 
ecosystems/environment  and/or  geographical  areas,  as  provided  for  in  point  (e)  of 
Articles 6(5) and 18(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.  

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http://registerofquestions.efsa.europa.eu/roqFrontend/questionLoader?question=EFSA-Q-2006-020 
OJ L 10, 16.1.2004, p. 5. 
OJ L 275, 21.10.2009, p. 9. 

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(9) 

All relevant information on the authorisation of the products should be entered in the 
Community  register  of  genetically  modified  food  and  feed,  as  provided  for  in 
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.  

(10)  Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 22 September 2003 concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically 
modified  organisms  and  the  traceability  of  food  and  feed  products  produced  from 
genetically  modified  organisms  and  amending  Directive  2001/18/EC6,  lays  down 
labelling requirements for products consisting of, or containing GMOs. 

(11)  This Decision is to be notified through the Biosafety Clearing-House to the Parties to 
the  Cartagena  Protocol  on  Biosafety  to  the  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity, 
pursuant  to  Articles  9(1)  and  15(2)(c)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1946/2003  of  the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on transboundary movements 
of genetically modified organisms7. 

(12)  The applicant has been consulted on the measures provided for in this Decision. 

(13)  The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has not delivered an 

opinion within the time-limit laid down by its Chairman, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

Article 1 
Genetically modified organism and unique identifier 

Genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.), MON 88017 x MON 810 as specified in point (b) 
of  the  Annex  to  this  Decision,  is  assigned  the  unique  identifier  MON-88Ø17-3  x  MON-
ØØ81Ø-6, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 65/2004. 

Article 2 
Authorisation  

The  following  products  are  authorised  for  the  purposes  of  Articles  4(2)  and  16(2)  of 
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 in accordance with the conditions set out in this Decision: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

foods  and  food  ingredients  containing,  consisting  of,  or  produced  from  MON-
88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6 maize;  

feed containing, consisting of, or produced from MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6 
maize;  

products  other  than  food  and  feed  containing  or  consisting  of  MON-88Ø17-3  x 
MON-ØØ81Ø-6  maize  for  the  same  uses  as  any  other  maize  with  the  exception  of 
cultivation. 

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OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 24. 
OJ L 287, 5.11.2003, p. 1. 

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Article 3 
Labelling 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

For the purposes of the labelling requirements laid down in Articles 13(1) and 25(2) 
of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003  and  in  Article  4(6)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1830/2003, the ’name of the organism’ shall be ’maize’. 

The  words  'not  for  cultivation'  shall  appear  on  the  label  of  and  in  documents 
accompanying products containing or consisting of MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-
6 maize referred to in Article 2(b) and (c). 

Article 4 
Monitoring for environmental effects 

The  authorisation  holder  shall  ensure  that  the  monitoring  plan  for  environmental 
effects, as set out in point (h) of the Annex, is put in place and implemented. 

The  authorisation  holder  shall  submit  to  the  Commission  annual  reports  on  the 
implementation  and  the  results  of  the  activities  set  out  in  the  monitoring  plan  in 
accordance with Decision 2009/770/EC. 

Article 5 
Community register 

The  information  set  out  in  the  Annex  to  this  Decision  shall  be  entered  in  the  Community 
register  of  genetically  modified  food  and  feed,  as  provided  for  in  Article  28  of  Regulation 
(EC) No 1829/2003. 

Article 6 
Authorisation holder 

The  authorisation  holder  shall  be  Monsanto  Europe  S.A.,  Belgium,  representing  Monsanto 
Company, United States. 

This Decision shall apply for a period of 10 years from the date of its notification. 

Article 7 
Validity 

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Article 8 
Addressee 

This Decision is addressed to Monsanto Europe S.A., Avenue de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 
Brussels – Belgium.  

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX 

(a) 

Applicant and Authorisation holder: 

Name: 

Monsanto Europe S.A. 

Address: 

Avenue de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 Brussels - Belgium 

On  behalf  of  Monsanto  Company  -  800  N.  Lindbergh  Boulevard  -  St.  Louis, 
Missouri 63167 - United States of America. 

(b) 

Designation and specification of the products:  

(1) 

(2) 

foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of, or produced from MON-
88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6 maize; 

feed  containing,  consisting  of,  or  produced  from  MON-88Ø17-3  x  MON-
ØØ81Ø-6 maize; 

(3)  products other than food and feed containing or consisting of MON-88Ø17-3 x 
MON-ØØ81Ø-6 maize for the same uses as any other maize with the exception 
of cultivation. 

The  genetically  modified  MON-88Ø17-3  x  MON-ØØ81Ø-6  maize,  as  described  in 
the  application,  is  produced  by  crosses  between  maize  containing  MON-88Ø17-3 
and MON-ØØ81Ø-6 events and expresses the Cry3Bb1 and Cry1Ab proteins which 
respectively confer protection against certain coleopteran and lepidopteran pests and 
the CP4 EPSPS protein which confers tolerance to glyphosate herbicides. 

(c) 

Labelling: 

(1)  For  the  purposes  of  the  specific  labelling  requirements  laid  down  in  Articles 
13(1)  and  25(2)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1829/2003,  and  in  Article  4(6)  of 
Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003, the ’name of the organism’ shall be ’maize’; 

(2)  The  words  'not  for  cultivation'  shall  appear  on  the  label  of  and  in  documents 
accompanying  products  containing  or  consisting  of  MON-88Ø17-3  x  MON-
ØØ81Ø-6 maize referred to in Article 2(b) and (c) of this Decision. 

(d) 

Method for detection: 

– 

– 

– 

Event  specific  real-time  quantitative  PCR  based  method  for  genetically 
modified  maize  MON-88Ø17-3  and  MON-ØØ81Ø-6  validated  on  MON-
88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6 maize; 

Validated on seeds by the Community Reference Laboratory established under 
http://gmo-
(EC) 
Regulation 
crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/statusofdoss.htm; 

1829/2003, 

published 

No 

at 

Reference  Material:  AOCS  0406-D  (for  MON-88Ø17-3)  accessible  via  the 
American Oil Chemists Society at http://www.aocs.org/tech/crm/ and ERM®-
BF413 (for MON-ØØ81Ø-6) accessible via the Joint Research Centre JRC) of 

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the European Commission, Institute for reference Materials and Measurements 
(IRMM) accessible at https://irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/rmcatalogue.  

(e) 

Unique identifier: 

MON-88Ø17-3 x MON-ØØ81Ø-6. 

(f) 

Information required under Annex II to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to 
the Convention on Biological Diversity: 

Biosafety Clearing-House, Record ID: see [to be completed when notified]. 

(g) 

Conditions or restrictions on the placing on the market, use or handling of the 
products: 

Not required. 

(h) 

Monitoring plan 

Monitoring plan for environmental effects conforming with Annex VII to Directive 
2001/18/EC. 

[Link: plan published on the internet] 

(i) 

Post  market  monitoring  requirements  for  the  use  of  the  food  for  human 
consumption 

Not required. 

Note: links to relevant documents may need to be modified over the time. Those modifications 
will be made available to the public via the updating of the Community register of genetically 
modified food and feed. 

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