Gijs A. Kleter - Articles and news items

Preparing for the safety issues surrounding genetically modified animals that are to be used for producing foods

Issue 4 2010 / 26 August 2010 / Gijs A. Kleter, RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre

Genetically modified (GM) crops that are used for producing human food and animal feed are grown on a continuously increasing scale around the globe. Their worldwide acreage reached 134 million hectares in 2009, most of which was located in North and South America, China, India and South Africa, and growth is likely to continue1. Before these crops are allowed onto the market, they have to receive regulatory approval from the national authorities in many countries. Part of the procedure for obtaining approval usually is an assessment of the safety of the pertinent GM crops.

According to the regulations, the same applies to other GM organisms, such as micro-organisms and animals. Whereas food-producing GM animals have not reached the market yet, there are indications that, in nations outside the EU, this may become a reality in the near future. It is therefore important that the regulatory authorities prepare themselves for reviewing the safety of these GM animals. Below, the potential issues with regard to the food safety of GM animals are reviewed.

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Assessing the safety of genetically modified crops used for food and feed purposes

Issue 1 2009 / 20 February 2009 / Gijs A. Kleter, RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Center

In the mid-nineties, genetically modified crops (GM) that had been obtained through recombinant DNA technology were grown commercially at a large scale for the first time. The agricultural area that is covered with these crops has since then grown steadily, reaching 114 million hectares globally in 20072. GM crops and the foods and animal feed that are derived from them commonly have to be approved for marketing, for which they also have to undergo a safety assessment.

In order to get marketing approval for a GM crop, an application has to be submitted to the authorities with a dossier that includes data on its safety. The principles for safety assessment have been globally harmonised because of efforts made by various international organisations.

GM crops are grown in an expanding number of nations, such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, China, India and South Africa. Most of these crops are commodity crops, including canola, cotton, maize and soybean2 (Figure 1 on page 54). Their derived products may be present in food and feed marketed elsewhere, though, given the global trade in food and feed commodities. (more…)