VIENNA, 12 nov 2008 (AFP) – Female mice fed on GM maize (GMOs) may be affected by reproductive problems, according to a study by Austrian researchers emphasize, however, that this is of “Provisional results” can not, “never, today be carried on humans”.

This long-term study was conducted on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of Health and the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) by researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (VUW).

“This is a study on a single species” and its conclusions can not “in any case be carried directly on humans”, said one of the researchers responsible for the study, Jürgen Zentek.

“Further studies will determine whether other animals that mice are also affected”, he added, specifying that only these additional studies could give a “scientific validity” these provisional results.

The study was conducted over several generations of mice that were fed for twenty weeks with transgenic maize produced by US manufacturer Monsanto, en l’occurrence la variante “NK603xMon810”.

In addition to the problems identified reproductive, the tested mice that were able to finally give birth to smaller pups put down a weight well below normal.

Despite the precautions taken by the researchers as to the interpretation of the results of their study, environmental organizations, in particular Greenpeace and Global-2000, have immediately asked “the immediate and total ban worldwide” not only GM maize “Mon810”, but of all genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Greenpeace justified its approach by “the severity of the potential threat to human health”. For a member of the organization, Jan van Aken, continue to distribute and sell GMOs “tantamount to playing Russian roulette with consumers and public health”.

The publication of this study also led to a reaction from the European Commissioner for Health, the Cyprus Vassiliou, who asked the Austrian authorities to pass it in order to be evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), said a spokesman for his services.

Until now, EFSA explained that the “Mon810” posed no risk to human and animal health or the environment.