(1)

On 17 April 2007, Bayer CropScience AG submitted to the Commission an application, in accordance with Articles 8(4) and 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, for renewal of the authorisation of existing food (processed oil) and feed produced from Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3 oilseed rape.

(2)

On 22 September 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (‘EFSA’) gave a favourable opinion in accordance with Articles 6 and 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. It concluded that it is unlikely that the continued marketing of the food and feed produced from oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3 as described in the application will have any adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended uses (2).

(3)

On 4 June 2010, Bayer CropScience AG submitted to the competent authority of Belgium an application, in accordance with Articles 5 and 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, for the placing on the market of foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of, or produced from oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3 with the exception of processed oil.

(4)

In accordance with Articles 5(5) and 17(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, that application includes the data and information required by Annexes III and IV to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC (3) and information and conclusions about the risk assessment carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC. It also includes a monitoring plan for environmental effects conforming with Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC.

(5)

On 26 September 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (‘EFSA’) gave a favourable opinion in accordance with Articles 6 and 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. It concluded that oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3, as described in the application, is as safe as its non-genetically modified counterpart with respect to potential effects on human and animal health or the environment. Therefore, it concluded that it is unlikely that the placing on the market of the foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of, or produced from oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3 as described in the application will have any adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended uses (4).

(6)

In its opinion, EFSA also concluded that the environmental monitoring plan, consisting of a general surveillance plan, submitted by the applicant is in line with the intended uses of the products.

(7)

In both opinions, EFSA considered all the specific questions and concerns raised by the Member States in the context of the consultations of the national competent authorities as provided for in Articles 6(4) and 18(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

(8)

The use of feed containing or consisting of Ms8, Rf3, Ms8 × Rf3 oilseed-rape and products other than food and feed containing it or consisting of it with the exception of cultivation, have already been authorised by Commission Decision 2007/232/EC (5).

(9)

Taking into account those considerations, authorisation should be granted to the foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of Ms8, Rf3, Ms8 × Rf3 oilseed rape and food and feed produced from Ms8, Rf3, Ms8 × Rf3 oilseed rape.

(10)

A unique identifier should be assigned to each genetically modified organism (hereinafter ‘GMO’) as provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 65/2004 of 14 January 2004 establishing a system for the development and assignment of unique identifiers for genetically modified organisms (6).

(11)

On the basis of the two EFSA opinions, no specific labelling requirements other than those provided for in Articles 13(1) and 25(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, appear to be necessary for foods, food ingredients containing or consisting of, and food and feed produced from oilseed rape Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3.

(12)

Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms and amending Directive 2001/18/EC (7), lays down labelling requirements in Article 4(6) for products containing or consisting of GMOs. Traceability requirements for products containing or consisting of GMOs are laid down in paragraphs 1 to 5 of Article 4 of that Regulation and those for food and feed produced from GMOs are laid down in Article 5 of that Regulation.

(13)

The authorisation holder should submit annual reports on the implementation and the results of the activities set out in the monitoring plan for environmental effects. Those results should be presented in accordance with Commission Decision 2009/770/EC of 13 October 2009 establishing standard reporting formats for presenting the monitoring results of the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, as or in products, for the purpose of placing on the market, pursuant to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (8). The EFSA opinions do not justify the imposition of specific conditions or restrictions for the placing on the market and/or specific conditions or restrictions for the use and handling, including post-market monitoring requirements for the use of the food and feed, or of specific conditions for the protection of particular ecosystems/environment and/or geographical areas, as provided for in point (e) of Article 6(5) and in Article 18(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

(14)

All relevant information on the authorisation of the products should be entered in the Community register of genetically modified food and feed, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

(15)

This Decision is to be notified through the Biosafety Clearing-House to the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, pursuant to Article 9(1) and point (c) of Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1946/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on transboundary movements of genetically modified organisms (9).

(16)

The applicant has been consulted on the measures provided for in this Decision.

(17)

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has not delivered an opinion within the time-limit laid down by its Chairman. An implementing act was deemed to be necessary and the chair submitted the draft implementing act to the appeal committee for further deliberation. The appeal committee did not deliver an opinion,

(a)

foods and food ingredients containing, consisting of, or produced from ACS-BNØØ5-8, ACS-BNØØ3-6 and ACS-BNØØ5-8 × ACS-BNØØ3-6 oilseed rape;

(b)

feed produced from ACS-BNØØ5-8, ACS-BNØØ3-6 and ACS-BNØØ5-8 × ACS-BNØØ3-6 oilseed rape.