Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 87429 for food and feed uses, import and processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-161)

Event MON 87429 is a genetically modified maize developed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. MON 87429 plants contain the transgenes pat, dmo, ft_t and cp4 epsps. Maize MON 87429 encodes the DMO, PAT and FT_T proteins. In addition, maize MON 87429 encodes the CP4 EPSPS protein and utilises an endogenous maize RNAi regulatory element to suppress its expression in pollen. This results in a lack of viable pollen and thus male sterility when MON 87429 plants are exposed to glyphosate-containing herbicides at growth stages ranging from V8 to V13. This is part of a hybridisation system to be used in inbred lines to facilitate the hybrid seeds production. This is not considered an agronomic trait since the application of glyphosate outside the specific growth stages does not lead to male sterile plants but reduces plant yield compared to plants not expressing the same trait. The scientific documentation provided in the application for genetically modified maize MON 87429 is adequate for risk assessment, and in accordance with EFSA guidance on risk assessment of genetically modified plants for use in food or feed. The VKM GMO panel does not consider the introduced modifications in event MON 87429 to imply potential specific health or environmental risks in Norway, compared to EU-countries. The EFSA opinion is adequate also for Norwegian considerations. Therefore, a full risk assessment of event MON87429 was not performed by the VKM GMO Panel

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