It took 14 years, but German chemical giant BASF has finally won approval to start growing its Genetically Modified Potato (GMO) called Amflora, for industrial purposes to make starch, but the decision drew immediate scorn and anger from an activist group and a European lawmaker. The decision to give the go-ahead came from the EU’s new consumer chief, John Dalli of Malta, through a statement issued by the European Commission, which shuns news conferences. While the company had received the necessary safety approvals, the EU had delayed its decision, prompting BASF to file court challenges. Environmental groups had lobbied against Amflora’s approval, saying GMO foods pose long-term risks for humans and crops, although BASF said the potato is safe and environmentally friendly and complained it was losing as much as 30 million euros each growing season because of the delay.
Opposition to the approval was swift, led by Friends of the Earth Europe which said the potato carries a controversial antibiotic resistant gene which it cannot be guaranteed will not enter the food chain. Heike Moldenhauer, GMO spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Europe said:  “This is a bad day for European citizens and the environment. The new Commissioner whose job is to protect consumers has in one of his first decisions ignored public opinion and safety concerns to please the world’s biggest chemical company. This decision puts profit before people or the environment and will do little to increase public confidence in the Brussels bureaucracy.”
German Green MEP Martin Hausling, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany, the Green Party and the EU Parliament Agriculture Committee, said he was shocked at the decision and said Dalli had caved in to the chemical industry in one of his first and most critical decisions. Dalli did not issue any reaction, even as Hausling said Dalli had shown “such flagrant support for industry interests,” adding that the decision  “flies in the face of the 70% of consumers who are against GM food, as well as the anti-GM position of the European Parliament. There are serious concerns about an Amflora gene that is resistant to antibiotics, including one recognized by the World Health Organisation and others essential to medicine, for example in the treatment of tuberculosis. Serious doubts remain on possible consequences for human health and the environment. Since certain non-GM varieties have already proved to have the same characteristics designed in Amflora, I can only conclude that its authorization is at best unnecessary and at worst dangerous.”

Dalli’s Defense
The bureaucratically-worded statement from Dalli’s office said that the approval – including another to allow three GMO maize products for food and feed only – “were subjected to the highest scrutiny, ensuring all concerns regarding the presence of an antibiotic resistance marker gene are fully addressed,” and said it was “based on a considerable volume of sound science.” In a press release, Dalli said: “Responsible innovation will be my guiding principle when dealing with innovative technologies. After an extensive and thorough review of the five pending GM files, it became clear to me that there were no new scientific issues that merited further assessment.” He added that, “Any delay would have simply been unjustified,” and that his decision was based on a series of favorable safety assessments carried out over the years by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA.)” The Amflora potato, he said, would be cultivated with a process that saves raw materials, energy, water and oil-based chemicals, words that didn’t evoke any support from critics, even though the EU said the GMO potatoes will not remain in fields after harvest and their seeds would not be allowed to be used for any other food purposes.
But Moldenhauer added that, “There are clear health concerns surrounding this GM potato. The antibiotics affected by Amflora are vital tools against illness and despite growing resistance to these life saving drugs, industry has added them to potatoes with no guarantees that they will not get into the food chain. This is nothing less than a crass decision that puts the public at risk.” Moldenhauer continued: “With this decision Commissioner Dalli has not only snubbed European citizens, the vast majority of who reject GMOs, he has snubbed member states as well. The new Commission promised to let national governments decide on whether to grow GM crops on their own territory but at the first possible opportunity they have broken this promise. Dalli has introduced himself as a Commissioner who can’t be trusted.” Amflora is highly controversial mainly due to its antibiotic resistant gene. The potato was given official approval by the European Food Safety Authority but for the first time the judgment of the scientific body wasn’t unanimous. Two EFSA scientists stated that the possibility of a transfer of antibiotic resistant genes to bacteria within the gastro-intestinal-tract cannot be predicted. Two other conventional potato varieties already on the market have the same characteristics as Amflora – one developed by German plant breeder Europlant, the other by Dutch company Avebe. The existence of these non-GM alternatives means that there is no reason for farmers to have to cultivate Amflora for the European starch industry and no need to introduce the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso earlier signaled his support for GMO foods, despite opposition from a majority of EU countries, and a meeting of the EU’s Science Committee in February couldn’t agree on whether GMO corn should be allowed to be grown. GMOs contain genetic material obtained by other means than natural crossbreeding.