The current "suspension" or "moratorium" is expected to end with the approval by the European

Commission of one European and one United States biotech food in the spring of 2004. One of the
products is Monsanto's NK603, a maize, which the company hopes to export to the EC and process
there. The Monsanto product received a favorable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority
(hereinafter "EFSA"), which permits the European Commission to issue a Decision of approval. The
European Commission admits that although eleven applications are pending, no foods consisting of or
containing live GMOs have been approved under the full procedure of the Novel Foods Regulation,
although two plants of maize and soybean varieties were authorized previously under Directive 90/220.
The producers of another group of foods filed under the simplified procedure of the novel foods
regulation that is available for foods that are "substantially equivalent" to existing foods. Thirteen
products can be marketed in the EC as novel foods that are substantially equivalent to existing foods. 24
The notifiers only give notice of their intention to market the product, coupled with scientific support for
that conclusion or an opinion of substantial equivalence from a Member State. The current "suspension"
or "moratorium" is expected to end with the approval by the European Commission of one European
and one United States biotech food in the spring of 2004. One of the products is Monsanto's NK603, a
maize, which the company hopes to export to the EC and process there. The Monsanto product received
a favorable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (hereinafter "EFSA"), which permits the
European Commission to issue a Decision of approval. The European Commission admits that although
eleven applications are pending, no foods consisting of or containing live GMOs have been approved
under the full procedure of the Novel Foods Regulation, although two plants of maize and soybean
varieties were authorized previously under Directive 90/220. The producers of another group of foods
filed under the simplified procedure of the novel foods regulation that is available for foods that are
"substantially equivalent" to existing foods. Thirteen products can be marketed in the EC as novel foods
that are substantially equivalent to existing foods. 24 The notifiers only give notice of their intention to
market the product, coupled with scientific support for that conclusion or an opinion of substantial
equivalence from a Member State.