Europe's top food agency, barely out of its infancy, is slowly dipping, its toes into one of the most controversial issues facing EU consumers today-the safety of genetically modified food.

While politicians turn their thoughts towards lifting the EU 's five year non-official ban on most genetically modified (GM) crops, the low-profile European Food safety Authority (EFSA) says it is getting down to basics, analysing GM products in a laboratory.

EFSA's Executive Director Geoffrey Podger said his fledging agency, which started work one year ago, expected to see several requests for authorizations of GM crops in 2004 but the actual products, and the order in which applications would arrive, was unclear.

"The assessments are done by us but the decisions which are taken on the assessments fall outside EFSA," Podger told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

The independent scientific agency is evaluating the safety of a type of GM maize used in feed and marketed by US biotech giant Monsanto. Its verdict is due in November.

The opinion could set the tone for a test ruling by EU officials as early as January, when the EU's executive Commission may ask member states to vote on introducing new GM crops and food products by the beginning of 2004.

If they approve, it would effectively spell the end of the EU's moratorium, triggered when five GM-sceptic countries-France, Greece Luxembourg, Italy and Denmark-refused to endorse any new GM crop authorizations.

Podger said his agency was completely objective in the debate over GM foods.

"We are genuinely neither pro nor anti: the objective is to give opinions without fear or favor. That's what we are determined to do."

A "yes" vote next year would find favor with the United States, where maize farmers are the most vocal critics of the EU ban and claim they lose nearly $300 million a year in exports.

Prompted by concerns from its farmers, Washington has also challenged the EU's moratorium at the World Trade Organization.