Unauthorised GM maize feed shipped into Dublin Port
The Department of Agriculture and Food said yesterday that the GM Herculex Rw maize is authorised in a number of countries including the US. An application for its approval in the EU has been made and will be considered in Brussels on June 8.
As part of the EU authorisation process, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the application and recently gave a favourable opinion.
The EFSA said it is unlikely the placing on the market of products containing or produced from GM maize Herculex Rw will have adverse effects on human or animal health or on the environment.
In its statement, the department said 6,000 tonnes of corn gluten feed and 6,200 tonnes of distillers dried grain was discharged at Dublin Port from the MV Pakrac, which went on to Rotterdam where it discharged the remainder of the animal feed cargo.
“The cargo of animal feed was certified as not containing GM Herculex Rw maize product. However, information was received on May 7 from the Dutch authorities that official samples taken by them had tested positive.”
The department said it immediately arranged for samples to be taken from the animal feed off-loaded in Dublin. These were sent for analysis to the State Laboratory, which confirmed on May 15 that they had tested positive for Herculex Rw.
A restriction order on the 7,000 tonnes that remained in portal stores was made and steps were taken to remove material that had left the stores from circulation.
“While some of the material has already been incorporated into the animal feed chain, it is unlikely, based on the EFSA evaluation, to have any adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment,” it said.
“In accordance with requirements under EU legislation the department will ensure that none of the material currently under restriction will enter the food chain.”
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