BRUSSELS - A genetically modified strain of maize, banned in some EU countries, poses no risk to health or the environment, the European Food Safety Authority declared Tuesday.

The Monsanto MON810 maize "is as safe as its conventional counterpart with respect to potential effects on human and animal health," the official agency said after studying the strain.

In April Germany became the sixth EU nation to ban the genetically-modified maize produced by the US biotech giant.