deek, the situation is that EFSA can only assess these products on the basis of safety to humans, animals and the environment. No other issues matter. They have assessed them once and already concluded there is no greater risk with these products than there is with conventional potato and maize. They may find something of concern in the second assessment, but as there is no new data suggestive of any concern, this is unlikely.
What consumers think has no impact on the safety assessments, as these are a rigorous scientific evaluation. Consumers have their say be either purchasing or refusing to purchase the product. Regulatory approval does not necessarily mean the products will be grown. That will remain a commercial decision for the seed companies and farmers.
If the EU were to disallow regulatory approval on the basis of anything other than scientific grounds, they would be in breach of the WTO. This will allow other countries to implement trade sanctions on the EU, which could have quite significant economic impacts.
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"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." Abraham Lincoln
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