EU authorises GM maize DP51291 for food and feed use
The authorisation, valid for 10 years, applies to products containing or produced from DP51291.
EUROPE – The European Commission has authorised the use of genetically modified (GM) maize DP51291 for food and animal feed across the European Union, following a safety clearance by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The decision, announced on September 22, 2025, allows imports and processing of the maize but bans its cultivation within the bloc.
The authorisation, valid for 10 years, applies to products containing or produced from DP51291 and requires compliance with the EU’s strict labelling and traceability rules.
The maize variety, developed by Corteva Agriscience Belgium B.V., was first submitted for approval in January 2023.
EFSA green light clears path
EFSA’s scientific review concluded that DP51291 is “as safe as its conventional counterpart,” clearing the way for its entry into the EU market. The maize underwent a comprehensive risk assessment examining its impact on human health, animal health, and the environment.
The Commission stepped in to issue the final authorisation after EU member states failed to reach a qualified majority for or against the proposal. Such political stalemates have become common in Europe’s handling of GM crop applications, shifting the decision-making burden to the Commission.
In a statement, the Commission emphasised that the approval was grounded in science, noting that EFSA’s panel of experts had examined the maize thoroughly and found no risks when used as intended in food and feed products.
Part of a broader trend
The green light for DP51291 is the latest in a series of authorisations granted this year as the EU cautiously opens its market to biotechnology.
In April, the Commission authorised three GM corn varieties for food and feed use, and in July, it approved GM soybean DBN9004, engineered by Beijing DaBeiNong Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
As with DP51291, those decisions followed EFSA’s positive safety assessments and came after member states were unable to break a voting deadlock. Each approval permits imports and processing but maintains Europe’s longstanding ban on GM crop cultivation.
“Soybean DBN9004 is as safe as its conventional counterpart and the tested non‐GM soybean varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health, and the environment,” EFSA’s GMO Panel stated in its July assessment.
Balancing science and scepticism
The approvals mark a notable shift in Europe’s management of GM products, although the region remains one of the most cautious globally.
Consumer scepticism and environmental concerns continue to shape EU policy, resulting in a tightly controlled framework that restricts cultivation but allows imports under regulated conditions.
The Commission has stressed that all GM products authorised in the EU are subject to some of the world’s strictest oversight mechanisms, including mandatory labelling and full traceability throughout the food and feed supply chain.
For the feed industry in particular, the recent wave of approvals offers greater flexibility in sourcing raw materials, while consumer groups are expected to continue pushing for transparency and monitoring.
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