18.9.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 295/35 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 19 July 2004 concerning the placing on the market, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of a maize product (Zea mays L. line NK603) genetically modified for glyphosate tolerance (notified under document number C(2004) 2761) (Only the Spanish text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/643[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard 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 ('), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 18(1) thereof, After consulting the European Food Safety Authority, Whereas: (1) Pursuant to Directive 2001/18/EC, the placing on the market of a product containing or consisting of a genetically modified organism or a combination of genetically modified organisms is subject to written consent being granted by the competent authority of the Member State that received the notification for the placing on the market of that product in accordance with the procedure laid down in that Directive. A notification concerning the placing on the market of a genetically modified maize product (Zea mays L. line NK603), to be used as any other maize but not for cultivation, was submitted by Monsanto SA to the competent authority of Spain which transmitted it to (*) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 (O] L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 24). ©) (6) the Commission and to the competent authorities of other Member States with a positive opinion. The competent authorities of other Member States raised objections to the placing on the market of the product. The opinion adopted on 25 November 2003 by the European Food Safety Authority, as established by Regu- lation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, estab- lishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (%), concluded that Zea mays L. line NK603 is as safe as conventional maize and that its placing on the market for food, feed or processing is therefore unlikely to have an adverse effect on human or animal health or, in that context, on the environment. An examination of each of the objections in the light of Directive 2001/18/EC, of the information submitted in the notification and of the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, discloses no reason to believe that the placing on the market of Zea mays L. line NK603 will adversely affect human or animal health or the envir- onment. A unique identifier should be assigned to the product for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003. () OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1642/2003 (O] L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 4).