Safety Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods of Plant Origin
(Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food Derived from Biotechnology, 29 May–2 June 2000, Geneva, Switzerland)
This expert consultation reviewed experience gained in this area
since the previous one in 1996 and discussed overall safety aspects of food
derived from plants that have been genetically modified using recombinant DNA
techniques.
The consultation recognised that the concept of ‘substantial
equivalence' can be used as a comparative approach focusing on the similarities
and differences between the genetically modified food and its conventional
counterpart. Simultaneously, it expressed the view that the concept of substantial
equivalence is not a safety assessment in itself nor an endpoint but just a
starting point of the safety assessment.
The conclusions of this consultation were used to advance the discussions
at the Codex Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived
from Biotechnology in which the basic ideas of the consultation were incorporated
into the text of the Guideline
for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA
plants (2003) [ 98kb].
The consultation also identified specific areas required for
further consideration such as allergenicity of genetically modified foods.
See also
Biotechnology (GM food) > Safety
assessment of GM food > Substantial
equivalence
|
