EFSA Releases Assessment of GM RF3 Canola Quality Brassica juncea

The European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) has published a positive scientific opinion evaluating the safety of genetically modified (GM) RF3 Canola Quality Brassica juncea. Conducted by EFSA's Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel), the assessment evaluated application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-158, submitted by BASF Agricultural Solutions, which seeks authorization to import and process the crop for use in food and animal feed across the European Union and does not include cultivation.

Developed through conventional breeding by crossing a GM CQ B. napus line with B. napus RF3, the resulting plant carries traits engineered to improve crop management. The variety expresses the barstar gene to restore male fertility as part of a pollination control system, along with the bar gene, which confers tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides.

In its comprehensive risk evaluation, the EFSA GMO panel concluded that RF3 Canola Quality B. juncea is as safe and nutritionally equivalent to non-GM counterparts, posing no additional health risks to humans or animals. The scientific opinion also determined that environmental risks from accidental spillage during import and processing would be negligible, marking a pivotal milestone as the application moves toward European Commission authorization for market access.

For more details, read the open-access Scientific Opinion in the EFSA Journal.