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3. Scope, including definitions


The Consultation addressed specifically GM animals, including fish. Hereafter in this report “GM animals” includes not only terrestrial but also aquatic species.

The genetic modification of animals is a set of rapidly developing technologies which have a number of interesting and promising applications. It can be used:

The Consultation addressed mainly the last application of this technology, namely the foods derived from genetically modified animals.

The objective of the Consultation was to provide scientific advice to FAO/WHO and their Member Governments on the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically modified animals. The Consultation devoted most of its time to discussing what strategies are appropriate and applicable to the food safety assessment of GM animals and in particular fish. Additionally, it addressed specific issues originating from the production of GM animals as well as environmental and ethical issues. The Consultation did not address all environmental issues but focused on the connection between environmental entry of GM animals and food safety. The inclusion of ethical issues in the discussion was considered important in the scope of the Consultation because of the public concerns associated with the introduction of this new technology.

The Consultation did not fully consider the safety assessment of cloning, especially somatic cell nuclear transplants.

Definitions. For the purpose of the Consultation, the following definitions have been used:

Modern biotechnology means the application of:

(i) in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or

(ii) fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family,

that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.[1]

Recombinant-DNA animal means terrestrial and aquatic species in which the genetic material has been changed through in vitro nucleic acid techniques including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles.

GM animals and transgenic animals are used interchangeably to mean recombinant DNA animals.

Transgene means the recombinant DNA that has been integrated in the genome of the GM animal.

Conventional counterpart means:


[1] This definition is taken from the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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