The use of GMOs: A Critique, from the EFSA

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A discussion on the use of GMOs

Contents

Terms of reference.............................................................................................................ii

Summary...........................................................................................................................iii

About the EFSA................................................................................................................iv

Chapter 1: Information presented at the Plenary session:

The EFSA on GMOs: a critical analysis...........................................................................5

   The potential problems of the EFSAs role within the EU regulatory framework..........5

   The precautionary Principle and its strengths and weaknesses......................................5

GMO Authorisation Process' problems and strengths.......................................................6

    Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, genetically modified food and feed...........................6

    Directive 2001/18/EC , deliberate release into the environment of GMO....................8

Chapter 2: Issues and questions raised:

The risk assessment and monitoring................................................................................10

Labelling and Traceability................................................................................................11

Accidental release............................................................................................................12

Chapter3: Recommendations and conclusion:

Recommendations............................................................................................................13

Self tasking activities.......................................................................................................13

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................14

Bibliography.....................................................................................................................15

Further reading.................................................................................................................16

Terms of Reference

This is a follow up paper as a result of a committee plenary session held on 16th November 2007. Its objectives were to re-examine the current regulation of genetically modified organisms in relation to agricultural products within the European Union.

The sessions remit included:

  • The accidental release of GMO's into the environment
  • The deliberate release of GMO's into the environment
  • The import and export of GMO's
  • The labelling of food and agricultural products
  • International obligations under multilateral treaties
  • The pre existing guidelines or approaches adopted by other international organisations involved in regulating agriculture plants and food and,
  • The precautionary principle

This paper will discuss the potential problems within the EU's GMO regulatory process. It will identify weaknesses and strengths, outline the approach to build on the strengths, and examine ways to address the potential problems. It will focus on three pieces of legislation including the deliberate release of GMO, GMO food and feed, and GMO labelling.

Summary

Food is a necessity for life and its safety is incremental in today's society. More and more our food is being grown in ever increasingly exotic places and in exotic ways. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) intends to keep all of our food safe for consumption. And to let our stakeholders  make an informed decision about what they eat.

The EFSA is a risk assessor and risk communicator within the twenty five EU member states, they provide sound independent scientific advice on all issues concerning food safety. The public is always at the heart of these decisions, and their health and welfare is at the utmost importance including that of animal and plant welfare and the environment.

The EFSAs remit  includes the use of directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMO's whether  it be onto the market, experimental release or anything else and regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on food and feed. Together they ensure a rigorous safety process is in place at all times during the application and monitoring after the GMO has been released. The precautionary principle is taken into account at all times, a GMO will never be allowed to increase its scale of release unless first proving that it creates no concern for food safety based on previous experience.

Within this process there are potential problems and areas of weakness which will be identified and addressed. Labelling is a huge area of concern and many problems have been identified . Methods of how to approach these problems have been put forward.

About the EFSA

The European Food Safety Authority was established in January 2002 in the wake of a series of food scares in the late 90's. It's aims are to provide independent scientific advice and communication on the entire food chain within the European Union (EU). The EFSA improve and monitor food safety, protect consumers and strive to provide a high level of consumer confidence in the EU food supply. The EFSA assess all potential food risks within the EU and consequently provide sound scientific advice to ensure a solid base for EU policies and legislation to support the European Commission (EC), European Parliament and EU Member States (MS) in deciding effective risk management strategies. The EFSAs future goals are to become globally recognised as world leaders on food and feed safety, nutrition, animal health and welfare, plant protection and plant health. The EFSA risk assessments are all independently carried out and this ensures that EU citizens are among the best protected and best informed in the world about the food they eat.(EFSA Website,Bibliography)

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The EFSA on GMOs: A critical analysis

The potential problems of the EFSAs role within the EU regulatory framework

The EFSA risk assessment, of GMOs, is one of the strictest in the world. This could have implications to trade as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) pointed out but these regulations are also a consumer safety net, and consumer confidence builder. Before any GMO can be released onto the market within the EU it must first pass an approval system ...

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