European Union Approves Two More GMO Corn Crops for Import for Food and Animal Feed, but Not for Cultivation

Jul 15, 2024

By Stella Meehan

The European Commission authorised two genetically modified (GM) maize crops and renewed the authorisation for another genetically modified maize crop for food and animal feed.

The commission’s authorisation decisions only allow these genetically modified maize to be imported for use in food and animal feed, but not to be cultivated in the EU.

According to the commission, these maize have gone through a comprehensive and stringent assessment procedure, which ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health, and of the environment.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a favourable scientific assessment concluding that these GM maize are as safe as their conventional counterparts.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.