RPT-UPDATE 2-EU paves way to prolong biotech maize cultivation

* EU agency reconfirms safety of growing Monsanto GM maize

* Agency opinion to pave way for EU licence renewal

* Green groups say EU agency scientists should be sacked

(Recasts, adds European Commission quote, repeat adds byline)

By Jeremy Smith

BRUSSELS, June 30 (Reuters) - The European Union took a step closer on Tuesday towards 10 more years of biotech cultivation after leading scientists reconfirmed the safety of the only genetically modified crop as yet commercially grown in Europe.

That crop is an insect-resistant maize type developed and marketed by U.S. company Monsanto (MON.N), approved for a decade of growing in 1998 and now awaiting licence renewal.

Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in the Italian city of Parma, said the maize, known by its codenumber MON 810, was "as safe as its conventional counterpart with respect to potential effects on human and animal health".

It also said MON 810 maize was "unlikely to have any adverse effect on the environment in the context of its intended uses". Those intended uses include seed for cultivation.

EFSA's long-awaited opinion is significant since it provides the basis for EU regulators to begin the process of renewing the standard 10-year authorisation for growing the GM maize, banned in six EU countries on environment and health concerns.

France, the EU's cereals powerhouse, banned cultivation of MON 810 maize in February 2008. But its ban is conditional on the EU renewing its approval, which expired in April 2008. If the renewal is granted, as is likely, France's ban will lapse.

The European Commission, which administers and monitors EU biotech policy for the bloc's member states, has said it will use the EFSA opinion as the basis for any authorisation renewal.

So far, the timing for this is far from clear -- but during the renewal process, MON 810 may still be grown in EU fields.

"The Commission will consider the opinion carefully before deciding on the next steps," Commission environment spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich said.

SACK EU AGENCY SCIENTISTS, GREENS SAY