IN BRIEF

21 February 1997

IN BRIEF

GOVERNMENT has cleared four lines of GM maize for use in processed food products, and as unprocessed grain in animal feed and said there is no need for any special labelling.

Two of the GM lines are resistant to the EU corn borer pest, one is tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, and the fourth is both insect-resistant and herbicide tolerant.

MAFFs advisers said none of the gene products, introduced by modification, were present in the processed maize.

One national newspaper reported the move under the headline "mutant maize to go on sale".