Marc Mortureux (R), Director of health agency ANSES, speaks with Gerard Lasfargues Deputy Director General for Scientific Affairs at ANSES, during a news conference in Paris October 22, 2012. A study last month pointing to health risks from a type of genetically modified maize and a related pesticide did not provide grounds for questioning previous safety approvals, the French government said on Monday. The study by researchers at the University of Caen said rats fed on Monsanto's NK603 GM maize (corn) or exposed to the company's top-selling Roundup weed killer were at higher risk of suffering tumours, multiple organ damage and premature death. The government requested the opinion of health agency ANSES and biotechnology advisory council HCB, and in their conclusions released on Monday both bodies said the University of Caen study did not demonstrate the toxicity of the Monsanto products. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (FRANCE - Tags: AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENT FOOD HEALTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY)