28.12.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 344/51 COMMISSION DECISION of 22 December 2011 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified cotton 281-24-236x3006-210-23 (DAS-24236-5xDAS-21023-5) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2011) 9532) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2011/891/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed (), and in particular Article 7(3) and Article 19(3) thereof, Whereas: 1 () ) On 22 June 2005, Dow AgroSciences Europe submitted to the competent authority of the Netherlands an appli- cation, in accordance with Articles 5 and 17 of Regu- lation (EC) No 1829/2003, for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients, and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from 281-24-236x3006- 210-23 cotton (‘the application). The application also covers the placing on the market of products other than food and feed containing or consisting of 281-24-236x3006-210-23 cotton for the same uses as any other cotton with the exception of cultivation. Therefore, in accordance with Articles 5(5) and 17(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, it includes the data and information required by Annexes Il and IV to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC (3 and information and conclusions about the risk assessment carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC. It also includes a monitoring plan for environmental effects conforming with Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC. On 15 June 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA’) gave a favourable opinion in accordance with Articles 6 and 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. It considered that cotton 281-24-236x3006-210-23 is as safe as its non-genetically modified counterpart with L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1. L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1. respect to potential effects on human and animal health or the environment. Therefore it concluded that it is unlikely that the placing on the market of the products containing, consisting of, or produced from 281-24-236x3006-210-23 cotton as described in the application (the products) will have any adverse effects on human or animal health or the environment in the context of their intended uses (3). In its opinion, EFSA considered all the specific questions and concerns raised by the Member States in the context of the consultation of the national competent authorities as provided for by Articles 6(4) and 18(4) of that Regu- lation. In its opinion, EFSA also concluded that the environ- mental monitoring plan, consisting of a general surveillance plan, submitted by the applicant is in line with the intended use of the products. However, due to the physical characteristics of cotton seeds and methods of its transportation, EFSA recommended that, within general surveillance, specific measures are introduced to actively monitor the occurrence of feral cotton plants in areas where seed spillage and plant establishment are likely to occur. In order to better describe the monitoring requirements and to comply with the EFSA recommendation, the monitoring plan submitted by the applicant has been modified. Specific measures to limit losses and spillage and to eradicate adventitious cotton populations have been introduced. Taking into account those considerations, authorisation should be granted for the products. A unique identifier should be assigned to each GMO as provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 65/2004 of 14 January 2004 establishing a system for the development and assignment of unique identifiers for genetically modified organisms (¥). () http:/[registerofquestions.efsa.europa.eu/rogFrontend/questionLoader? question=EFSA-Q-2010-00863 (* OJ L 10, 16.1.2004, p. 5.