EU food authority to increase GM transparency

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published data on its risk assessment of a genetically modified maize crop, as the first step in a planned move to increase the transparency of the agency’s work.

The data released concerns the Monsanto maize NK603, which has been authorized since 2003 but came under fire late last year after a study claimed that the crop caused tumours and early deaths in rats. An EFSA evaluation later deemed the study to be flawed, because of numerous scientific failings including insufficient controls and questionable statistical analysis (see related articles).