After several months of impasse, Syngenta's genetically modified maize type MIR604 has been finally approved by the European Commission today. The maize type has been authorised for food and feed uses as well as imports and processing in the EU (however growing it will not be allowed). The Commission says in a statement. Following to the EU's decision, imports of soymeal and soybeans for animal feed could start again.

The request for authorization was addressed to EU Council after that the European Committee for Human Food and Animal Feed failed to find an agreement about the proposal - not in favor nor against it. Accordingly to the current legislation, the authorization request has then went back to the European Commission, which today has finally approved it.

"The MIR604 maize received a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) - which has been hit by recent polemics - and underwent the full authorisation procedure set up in the EU legislation", the Commission said.