European Union authorities said on Monday they had asked BASF to explain how unapproved, genetically modified potatoes developed by the German chemical company were found growing in Sweden.

The potatoes were discovered growing in a field of "Amflora" potatoes, another GM variety that was approved for cultivation in the EU in March.
The new variety - known as "Amadea" - has not been authorised for cultivation in the EU, the bloc's executive European Commission said.

"The Commission is greatly concerned about this and is following the matter closely with BASF and the concerned member states," a spokesman for the EU executive told journalists. The Commission has asked representatives from BASF to come to Brussels on Wednesday to explain the situation, the spokesman added.

In a statement on Monday, BASF said it had removed 47 Amadea plants found growing in a field planted with 680,000 Amflora potatoes and that the cause of the contamination was being investigated.
The company added that no Amadea plants had been found growing in Germany and the Czech Republic - the two other countries where Amflora is grown. Both potatoes have been genetically modified for use in industrial starch production.

Environmental group Greenpeace described the incident as "a deplorable lapse in bio-security", and called on EU authorities to stop authorising new GM crops for cultivation in Europe.