The German ban on GM maize MON810: scientifically justified or unjustified?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have triggered controversies at a number of levels, from technical scientific details in risk assessment and regulation, to trade and other large-scale political decision-making processes. Clearly, these levels are interrelated. There is legitimate public concern over the safety of GMOs, related to putative human as well as ecosystem health. The concern must, however, be accompanied by scientific evidence. Furthermore, concepts such as ‘safety’, ‘risk’ or ‘scientific justification’ are not clear-cut and need definition and interpretation.This article discusses scientific results that have been used in political decision-making. It particularly highlights the ways in which the details of a scientific publication can be subject to both reasonable and unreasonable alternative interpretation, but also manipulation, when drawn into a political context. A good example of this, in our opinion, is presented in the article in Transgenic Research by Ricroch et al.[1].Ricroch et al. discuss the German ban on the genetically modified (GM) maize variety MON810, produced by Monsanto Company. The authors draw the conclusion that the ban was unjustified. They reach this conclusion by rejecting the scientific basis for the ban. A study by the authors of this commentary, published in 2008 [2], was part of that scientific basis. Here, we will analyze their critique and correct some misconceptions.The genome of the MON810 event is modified by the insertion of a bacterial gene called cry1ab. The protein product of this gene is a so-called Bt-toxin named Cry1Ab. This protein is toxic to some lepidopteran insect species (butterflies and moths), among which we also find the so-called “target pest species” for Bt-transgenic crop plants. These may reduce yields by feeding on maize plants.The European Commission approved MON810 in 1998, and permission for cultivation in Germany was given in 2005. The cultivation of MON810 has been controversial ever since