Report on the verification of the performance of MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017 and 59122 maize event-specific methods on the maize event MON 89034 x 1507 x MON 88017 x 59122 using real-time PCR : validation report and protocols

The European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL-GMFF), established by Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, has carried out a verification study to assess the performance of four quantitative eventspecific methods on the maize event MON 89034 x 1507 x MON 88017 x 59122 (unique identifier MON-89Ø34-3 x DAS-Ø15Ø7-1 x MON-88Ø17-3 x DAS-59122-7) which combines the MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017 and 59122 transformation events. The four methods have been validated individually on single-trait events, to detect and quantify each event in maize samples. This study was conducted according to internationally accepted guidelines (1, 2). In accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed and to Regulation (EC) No 641/2004 of 6 April 2004 on detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences provided the detection methods and the control samples : genomic DNA from homogenised seeds of MON 89034 x 1507 x MON 88017 x 59122 maize (258-4CC, 258- 4JJ, 258-4B, 258-4N) and from homogenised seeds of conventional maize (10001262-V). The EURL-GMFF prepared the verification samples (calibration samples and blind samples at different GM percentages). The results of the verification study were evaluated with reference to ENGL method performance requirements (http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guidancedocs.htm) and to the validation results on the individual parental events (http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/statusofdoss.htm). The results of this EURL-GMFF verification study are publicly available at http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/.