Chardon LL maize (also known as T25)

Tuesday 17 December 2002

A public hearing on food safety and environmental concerns relating to a type of GM maize known as Chardon LL finished in June 2002 and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has published its response.

The ACNFP (the independent committee that assesses food safety of novel foods, including GM crops) was asked to consider the representations made to the hearing held regarding placing Chardon LL maize on the National Seeds List.

This is the final stage for the maize to be grown commercially in the UK if the moratorium on commercial growing of GM crops is lifted. This type of maize has been genetically modified to be tolerant to the effects of glufosinate-ammonium based herbicides. The Committee’s advice on the food safety related issues that arose from the hearing has now been published.

In 1996, the ACNFP considered the safety of food products derived from maize varieties containing the T25 transformation event – which includes the Chardon LL variety – and concluded that these were as safe to eat as products derived from conventionally bred maize.

The ACNFP has considered the written and oral representations made to the hearing, and has concluded that no new evidence has been submitted that would question the safety of food products derived from Chardon LL maize.