24 October 2011: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a statement declaring that there are no scientifically grounded concerns regarding the safety of pollen derived from the genetically modified maize variety MON810.

EFSA was asked for scientific support on the pollen of MON810 following a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, which stated that pollen produced by MON810 maize and present in honey falls under the scope of an EU Regulation requiring authorization of the honey prior to placement on the market.

The EFSA panel on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) previously concluded that MON810 is as safe as non-GMO maize, and therefore issues the current opinion that it is unlikely that pollen derived from MON810 would raise specific concerns as a result of the genetic modification. [EFSA Press Release]