Novel Food in the EU

What kinds of genetically engineered foods is the European consumer to encounter in the shops?

While in Germany people still occupy fields that are used to release genetically engineered plants, while in Austria a two-year moratorium on the release of genetically engineered plants has just been passed, the Commission of the European Community has presented the European population with facts. Ignoring the wishes of the population, and without listening to the warnings of scientists,

Soybeans

the European Commission consented on April 3rd, 1996, to the import, the storage and the processing of the soybean Roundup Ready, genetically engineered by Monsanto into the European Union. The importation will start in autumn 1996. There will be no labelling. .

The soybean has been genetically modified in order to become resistant to Monsanto's herbicide Roundup.
Frankfurter Rundschau 5.9.1996: [...]Every year, the European import about 15 million tons of Soybeans, of which 60 percent come from the United states. 5.5 million tons go to Germany. Soybeans are part of at least one third of all foods. Soybeans are used in sauces, pastes, nuts, pies and cookies, instant milk beverages, sweers, soups, meat and fish product. From the soybeans lecithin is extracted, that is used in Cocoa drinks, milk mix drinks and milk powder, ice cream, vitamin compounds, cosmetic articles, colours and adhesives. Oil and fat are used in nuitrition oil, backing fats, mayonnaise, fried frozen foods, salad dressings and margarine. And 80 percent of the bruised grain is used as fodder.[...]
dpa-news item Sept. 4, 1996: [...]The three big food manufacturers Unilever, Nestle and Danone have, according to Greenpeace announced, that they will introduce genetically engineered soybeans into their assortment.[...]
Sources: IPB News Vol.5, No 6 (1996) FoEE, Mailout Vol. 2 (1996)

Maize

The US-American representative of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy is now about to import the disputed genetically engineered maize from the United States into the European Union without authorization/approval and labeling. 12 member-states of the European Union vetoed the admission of genetic engineered maize. The genetically manipulated maize, that has been made resistant against herbicides and vermin, when harvested will be mixed with the normal maize in the United States. Therefore a selection will be impossible for the consumer. The Commision of the European Union in Brussels declared, that the individual European member countries will have to ensure themselves, that the genetically engineered maize will not be introduced into the market without authorization.

Sources: Global 2000 Presseinformation, 5.9.1996

Further information:

Global 2000: What kinds of foods have already been introduced into the market
(In german language)

Union of Concerned Scientists: What's coming to Market