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OECD Unique Identifier details

BCS-GHØØ5-8
Commodity: Cotton
Traits: Glufosinate tolerance,Lepidoptera resistance
European Union
Name of product applicant: BASF SE
Summary of application:

BCS-GHØØ5-8 as described in the application, expresses the PAT protein which confers tolerance to glufosinate ammonium-based herbicides and Cry2Ae protein which confers resistance to certain lepidopteran pests.

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Date of authorization: 04/07/2017
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): EU Register of authorised GMOs
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see the EU relevant links below.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Method for detection: Event specific real-time PCR based method for the quantification of BCS-GHØØ5-8 cotton. Reference material: ERM-BF428 accessible via the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The relevant links are provided below.
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Method for detection
Reference Material
Opinion of the European Food Safety Authority
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date) 03/07/2027
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
European Union
Contact person name:
Alexandre Huchelmann
Website:
Physical full address:
European Commission B232 04/106 1047 Brussels
Phone number:
3222954092
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The process for authorising a new GMO is based on the EU regulation on GM food and feed (1829/2003). An application for authorising food or feed consisting of or made from a GMO must be submitted to the national authorities. The national authority then sends the application to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) for a risk assessment. EFSA then makes the application summary available to the public. No matter where in the EU the company applies, EFSA assesses the risks the GMO presents for the environment, human health and animal safety. If the application covers cultivation, EFSA delegates the environmental risk assessment to an EU country which sends EFSA its risk assessment report. After performing the risk assessment, EFSA submits its scientific opinion to the European Commission and to EU countries. The opinion is made available to the public, except for certain confidential aspects. Once EFSA publishes its risk assessment, the public has 30 days to comment on the Commission website for applications under Reg. 1829/2003, and on the Joint Research Centre website on the assessment report of the "lead" EU country for applications under Directive 2001/18. Within 3 months of receiving EFSA's opinion, the Commission grants or refuses the authorisation in a proposal. If it differs from EFSA’s opinion, it must explain why. National representatives approve the Commission’s proposal by qualified majority in: (1) The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health if the application was submitted under Reg. 1829/2003; (2) The Regulatory Committee under Directive 2001/18/EC if the application was submitted under Dir. 2001/18. The proposal is adopted if the Committee agrees with it. If there is no opinion, the Commission may summon an Appeal Committee where EU countries can adopt or reject the proposal. If the Appeal Committee makes no decision, the Commission may adopt its proposal. Authorisations are valid for 10 years (renewable).

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Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Australia
Name of product applicant: Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd
Summary of application:
A genetically modified (GM) cotton line, GHB119, has been developed which is protected against feeding damage by Lepidopteran insects, particularly cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa spp.), a major cotton pest in Australia, and tolerant to herbicides containing glufosinate ammonium.
Protection against feeding damage by Lepidopteran insects is achieved through expression in the plant of an insecticidal crystal protein, Cry2Ae, encoded by a modified cry2Ae gene derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Tolerance to glufosinate ammonium is achieved through expression of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) encoded by the bar gene derived from another soil bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Both of these genes have been widely used for genetic modification of a number of crop species.
The main food products derived from cotton line GHB119 would be oil and linters.
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Date of authorization: 20/01/2011
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Application A1040 - Food Derived from Insect-protected & Herbicide-tolerant Cotton Line GHB119
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
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Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Contact person name:
Website:
Physical full address:
Level 4, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park ACT 2609, Australia
Phone number:
+61 2 6271 2222
Fax number:
+61 2 6271 2278
Country introduction:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the regulatory agency responsible for the development of food standards in Australia and New Zealand. The main office (approximately 115 staff) is located in Canberra (in the Australian Capital Territory) and the smaller New Zealand office (approximately 10 staff) is located in Wellington on the North Island.

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Relevant documents
Stacked events:

FSANZ does not: Separately assess food from stacked event lines where food from the GM parents has already been approved; Mandate notification of stacked events by developers; Notify the public of stacked event ‘approvals’; List food derived from stacked event lines in the Code, unless the stacked event line has been separately assessed as a single line e.g. Application A518: MXB-13 cotton (DAS-21023-5 x DAS-24236-5)

No separate approval or safety assessment is necessary for foods derived from a stacked GM line that is the result of traditional breeding between a number of GM parent lines for which food has already been approved. Food from the parent lines must be listed in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The parent lines may contain any number of different genes. If food from any of the GM parent lines has not been approved, then a full pre-market safety assessment of food from the stacked line must be undertaken.

No separate approval is required for food derived from a line that is the product of a GM line, for which food has been approved, crossed traditionally with a non-GM line.

Where a single line containing a number of genes has been produced as a result of direct gene technology methods (rather than traditional crossing) then food derived from the line must undergo a full pre-market safety assessment before approval can be given

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au)

Canada
Name of product applicant: Bayer CropScience
Summary of application:

Bayer CropScience has developed cotton event GHB119 to be tolerant to glufosinate ammonium herbicides and resistant to lepidopteran pests. Recombinant DNA techniques were used to confer tolerance to the herbicide and impart pest resistance.

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Date of authorization: 29/12/2011
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see decision document weblinks
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Novel Foods Decision Document
Novel Feeds Decision Document
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Health Canada
Contact person name:
Neil Strand
Website:
Physical full address:
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, PL 2204A1
Phone number:
613-946-1317
Fax number:
Country introduction:

Federal responsibility for the regulations dealing with foods sold in Canada, including novel foods, is shared by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Health Canada is responsible for establishing standards and policies governing the safety and nutritional quality of foods and developing labelling policies related to health and nutrition. The CFIA develops standards related to the packaging, labelling and advertising of foods, and handles all inspection and enforcement duties. The CFIA also has responsibility for the regulation of seeds, veterinary biologics, fertilizers and livestock feeds. More specifically, CFIA is responsible for the regulations and guidelines dealing with cultivating plants with novel traits and dealing with livestock feeds and for conducting the respective safety assessments, whereas Health Canada is responsible for the regulations and guidelines pertaining to novel foods and for conducting safety assessments of novel foods.

The mechanism by which Health Canada controls the sale of novel foods in Canada is the mandatory pre-market notification requirement as set out in Division 28 of Part B of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Manufacturers or importers are required under these regulations to submit information to Health Canada regarding the product in question so that a determination can be made with respect to the product's safety prior to sale. The safety criteria for the assessment of novel foods outlined in the current guidance document (i.e. Canadian Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods) were derived from internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed through the work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These guidelines provide for both the rigour and the flexibility required to determine the need for notification and to conduct the safety assessment of the broad range of food products being developed. This flexibility is needed to allow novel foods and food products to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and to take into consideration future scientific advances.

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Stacked events:

Food: Consistent with the definition of "novel food" in Division 28 of the Food and Drug Regulations, the progeny derived from the conventional breeding of approved genetically modified plants (one or both parents are genetically modified) would not be classified as a novel food unless some form of novelty was introduced into such progeny as a result of the cross, hence triggering the requirement for pre-market notification under Division 28. For example, notification may be required for modifications observed in the progeny that result in a change of existing characteristics of the plant that places those characteristics outside of the accepted range, or, that introduce new characteristics not previously observed in that plant (e.g. a major change has occurred in the expression levels of traits when stacked). In addition, the use of a wild species (interspecific cross) not having a history of safe use in the food supply in the development of a new plant line may also require notification to Health Canada. However, molecular stacks are considered new events and are considered to be notifiable as per Division 28.

Feed:

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Neil Strand, Section Head of Novel Foods

Colombia
Name of product applicant: Bayern Crop Science
Summary of application:

Authorization of the genetically modified cotton GHB119 resistant to lepidoptera and coleoptera pest attack and tolerant to herbicides glyphosate and glufosinate

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Date of authorization: 27/09/2019
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Based on the risk assessment, it can be concluded that the event shows the same risks as its conventional counterpart. Therefore the National Technical Biosafety Committee for GMO use exclusively in Health and human consumption (CTNSalud) recommends its authorization.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de salud y proteccion social
Contact person name:
Daniel Rubio
Website:
Physical full address:
Carrera 13 No. 32- 76 piso 12, Bogotá
Phone number:
330 5000 ext 1256
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The 4525 decree of 2005, established the Ministry of Health and Social Protection as the competent authority for GMO for health and food purposes and creates the National Biosafety Technical Committee for GMO's used in health and food purposes (CTNSalud).

The CTNSalud is composed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA) and the Technology and Innovation Administrative Department (COLCIENCIAS). This committee is responsible for the assesment of risk assessments; to inquire for any additional information; assessment of any measurements in accordance to the Cartagena Protocol; and the recommendation for the authorization of GMO for health or food purposes.

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Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Japan
Name of product applicant: Bayer Crop Science Ltd.
Summary of application:

GHB119 is a genetically modified cotton line to be tolerant to glufosinate herbicide and resistant to Lepidoptera (modified bar, cry2Ae, Gossypium hirsutum L.).

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Date of authorization: 10/07/2012
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see the links below (in Japanese).
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Food safety assessment performed by Food Safety Commission of Japan (in Japanese), Food
Food safety assessment performed by Food Safety Commission of Japan (in Japanese), Feed
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Safety Commission Secretariat,Cabinet Office,
Contact person name:
Kojiro Yokonuma
Website:
Physical full address:
Akasaka 5-2-20 Minato Ward,Tokyo,Japan
Phone number:
81 3 6234 1122
Fax number:
81 3 3584 7392
Country introduction:
Safety assessments of GM foods are mandatory under the Food Sanitation Law in Japan. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) legally imposes safety assessments of GM foods so that those that have not undergone safety assessments would not be distributed in the country. MHLW receives application and requests the Food Safety COmmission of Japan (FSCJ) to evaluate the safety of GM foods in terms of human health. Safety assessments are carried out by FSCJ.
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Relevant documents
Stacked events:

With regard to stacked events, FSCJ conducts the safety assessment of GM food based on the “Policies Regarding the Safety Assessment of Stacked Varieties of Genetically Modified Plants”.

Even if single events that are stacked have already approved, some products will be considered as new products and some will not.

Please refer to Article 5 and 6 of the MHLW’s notice, which is available at the following URL, for the details.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000053519.pdf

Article 6 was modified in 2014, and the modified version is available at the following URL.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000049695.pdf

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Safety Commission of Japan (http://www.fsc.go.jp/english/index.html), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/food/index.html)

Malaysia
Name of product applicant: BASF (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Summary of application:

Please refer to the decision document of the National Biosafety Board

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Date of authorization: 30/03/2017
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): Department of Biosafety Malaysia
CBD Biosafety Clearing House
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please refer to the Risk Assessment Report
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Department of Biosafety Malaysia
Contact person name:
Dr. Anita Anthonysamy
Website:
Physical full address:
Department of Biosafety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Level 4, Block F11, Complex F Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Phone number:
+60380917322
Fax number:
+60380917371
Country introduction:

GM food safety assessment is a requirement by law under the Biosafety Act 2007 in Malaysia. The National Biosafety Board reviews and makes decisions on events based on a scientific/technical risk assessment, policy considerations as well as public input. The decisions and its related documents made are publicly available through the Malaysian Department of Biosafety Website and the Convention of Biological Diversity Biosafety Clearing House.

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Relevant documents
Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Department of Biosafety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Level 4, Block F11, Complex F Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia. Email: [email protected]. Url: www. biosafety.gov.my

Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health, Level 4, Menara Prisma, No. 26, Persiaran Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia, 62675. Phone: +603 88850797 Fax: +603 88850790 Email: [email protected]
New Zealand
Name of product applicant: Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd
Summary of application:

A genetically modified (GM) cotton line, GHB119, has been developed which is protected against feeding damage by Lepidopteran insects, particularly cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa spp.), a major cotton pest in Australia, and tolerant to herbicides containing glufosinate ammonium.
Protection against feeding damage by Lepidopteran insects is achieved through expression in the plant of an insecticidal crystal protein, Cry2Ae, encoded by a modified cry2Ae gene derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Tolerance to glufosinate ammonium is achieved through expression of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) encoded by the bar gene derived from another soil bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Both of these genes have been widely used for genetic modification of a number of crop species.
The main food products derived from cotton line GHB119 would be oil and linters.

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Date of authorization: 10/03/2011
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
FSANZ has completed a comprehensive safety assessment of food derived from cotton plants containing event GHB119. This assessment included consideration of (i) the genetic modification to the plant; (ii) the potential toxicity and allergenicity of the novel proteins; and (iii) the composition of cotton line GHB119 compared with that of conventional cotton cultivars. No public health and safety concerns have been identified in this pre-market safety assessment of food derived from cotton line GHB119. On the basis of the available evidence, including detailed studies provided by the Applicant, food derived from cotton line GHB119 is considered as safe and wholesome as food derived from other commercial cotton cultivars.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Application A1040 - Food Derived from Insect-protected & Herbicide-tolerant Cotton Line GHB119
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministry for Primary Industries
Contact person name:
john vandenbeuken
Website:
Physical full address:
Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace, Wellington, 6012
Phone number:
0298942581
Fax number:
Country introduction:

New Zealand and Australia share a joint food regulation system for the composition of labelling of most foods. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the regulatory agency responsible for the development of the joint food standards in Australia and New Zealand. The main office (approximately 120 staff) is located in Canberra (in the Australian Capital Territory) and the smaller New Zealand office (approximately 15 staff) is located in Wellington on the North Island.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

FSANZ does not: Separately assess food from stacked event lines where food from the GM parents has already been approved; Mandate notification of stacked events by developers; Notify the public of stacked event ‘approvals’; List food derived from stacked event lines in the Code, unless the stacked event line has been separately assessed as a single line e.g. Application A518: MXB-13 cotton (DAS-21023-5 x DAS-24236-5)

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au)

Philippines
Name of product applicant: BASF Philippines
Summary of application:

On December 07, 2016, Bayer CropScience’s submitted cotton GHB119 for direct use as food and feed, or for processing to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under the DOSTDA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1 Series of 2016. After reviewing the Risk Assessment Report and attachments submitted by the applicant, the assessors namely: Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), BPI- Plant Products Safety Services Division (BPI-PPSSD) and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), concurred that cotton GHB119 as safe for human food and animal feed as its conventional counterpart.

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Date of authorization: 19/11/2018
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
STRP, PPSSD and BAI ASSESSMENT GHB119 was developed by Bayer CropScience, Inc. through the use of recombinant DNA technology, a glufosinate ammonium herbicide tolerant and lepidopteran insect resistant plant. The single event was developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton genome with plasmid vector pTEM12 carrying, cry2Ae gene encoding Cry2Ae protein which provides resistance to lepidopteran insects and bar gene encoding PAT an enzyme involved in the inactivation of glufosinate ammonium through acetylation. Host Organism (Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum) The role of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in the food supply chain has always been associated with the production of cotton by-products such as cottonseed oil which only takes 5-6% of the total domestic fat and oil supply in the United States, cottonseed meal and hulls. In the Philippines, the assessors concurred that there are still no extensive literature that can provide any consumption pattern of its byproducts. Primarily, oil is an excellent source of oil and protein suitable for human consumption and livestock feeding (OECD, 2009). The STRPs, PPSSD and BAI added that anti-nutrients are also present in cotton. These includes terpenoids, phytoalexins, cyclopropenoid fatty acids, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanin. Toxicant such as gossypol has been associated with cotton. However, cotton is being considered as a non-common allergenic food. it was known to be abundant, non-pathogenic and common in the environment. B. thuringiensis strains have been a source of biological pest control agents. In addition, the bar genes encoding PAT proteins was derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, a common soil microbe. It is known to be non-pathogenic and nontoxic to human health. Genetic Stability On the other hand, the assessors agreed that multigenerational stability of cry2Ae and bar in GH119 was demonstrated through Southern Blot Analyses of five (5) generations of GHB119 cotton. Results showed that the hybridization bands specific to the GHB119 insert were identical in lanes containing DNA from cotton grown from five (5) generations. Thus, STRPs, PPSSD and BAI concurred that these showed the stability of the GHB119 insert inherited from one generation to the next. Three generations were used to assess segregation of cry2Ae and bar genes. Segregation ratios of the genes were determine.. Chi Square Analysis of these segregation data was performed. The observed and expected frequencies of cry2Ae and bar in three (3) generations of GHB119 cotton indicate that the segregation of both genes through generations follows the Mendelian principle. Expressed Material Cry2Ae protein confers resistance to certain lepidopteran insects through selective binding on midgut of target insect causing cotton-specific pores which eventually leads to death of insect. PAT is an enzyme which inactivates glufosinate ammonium through acetylation. It catalyzes the transfer of acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A to phosphinothricin. The released free thiol reacts with 5, 5’-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) to form 2- nitro-5-thiobenzoate anion under mild alkaline conditions (pH 7 to 8). Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was conducted to quantify the level of expression of Cry2Ae and PAT in different plant parts and forms of GHB119 cotton. Toxicity and Allergenicity Assessment The safety of the novel proteins, Cry2Ae and PAT, in terms of toxicity and allergenicity was assessed through digestibility studies, heat inactivation, acute oral toxicity and amino acid sequence comparison. Escherichia coli-produced Cry2Ae and PAT proteins were used in the analyses. The assessors also noted that equivalency report indicated the suitability of the microbially produced proteins as a surrogate test proteins for the toxicity and allergenicity assessment of the proteins derived from GHB119. Sodium Dodecylsulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) Analysis showed that Cry2Ae protein was degraded rapidly in human simulated gastric fluid within 2 minutes of incubation, in presence of pepsin, at pH 1.2. The Cry2Ae protein was also partially degraded in simulated intestinal fluid, in presence of pancreatin, at pH 7.5. PAT protein is degraded very rapidly with no residual protein visible at 30 seconds of incubation with SGF, in presence of pepsin, at pH 1.2 and in less than 30 seconds of incubation with SIF, in presence of pancreatin, at pH 7.5. Food proteins that are rapidly degraded by gastric and/or intestinal processes are less likely to express any systemic immunogenicity or toxicity following digestion. SDS-PAGE Analysis followed by Western Blot Analysis were conducted to determine the heat inactivation of Cry2Ae and PAT protein in GHB119. The proteins were subjected to heat treatment at 4⁰C, 60⁰C, 75⁰ and 90⁰C. Results showed that the band intensity of Cry2Ae decreased from 75⁰C after 10 minutes and disappeared at 90⁰C after 30 to 60 minutes. This indicates that Cry2Ae starts to degrade upon subject to processing at above 75⁰C after 10 minutes. PAT protein is heat stable up to 60 minutes at 90°C as it confirms different published results. The assessors confirmed that acute oral gavage is performed in mice with 2000 mg/kg body weight showing no mortalities, no-treatment related clinical signs, no effect on body weight parameters, no effect on food consumptions, no macroscopic changes at necropsy were observed in mice treated with Cry2Ae and PAT. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis indicated that Cry2Ae and PAT protein in GHB119 cotton has no homology to any known toxins and based on FASTA algorithm and BLOSUM50 scoring matrix. Exposure potential of both proteins was also estimated. Cotton seed oil is the main dietary product obtained from cotton. The Cry2Ae and PAT is not detected in products derived from cotton event GHB119 seeds thus; the intake will be significantly lower. In terms of the interaction among the two novel proteins, no likelihood of interaction among the novel proteins, Cry2Ae and PAT since they are expressed independently of each other and their mode of actions and metabolic pathways are different from one another. Compositional Analysis The compositional equivalence of GHB119 to conventional cotton was assessed through comparison with commercial cotton varieties, and comparison with range of literature values of commercial cotton varieties. Most of the promixates, key nutrients (minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids) and anti-nutrients levels in GHB119 seeds were not significantly different from non-transgenic cotton. Values obtained from GHB119 seeds were within the range of reported values from cotton literatures. This indicates that there is no statistical differences in the composition of GHB119 seeds that can be considered as biologically relevant. Conclusion For the transgenic cotton, GHB119, the STRPs, PPSSD and BAI concurred that there is enough evidence to support the equivalence of the GM crop, in terms of the nutritional composition, agronomic characteristics and food safety, with the conventional cotton other than the tolerance to glufosinate ammonium herbicides and resistance to certain lepidopteran insects. After reviewing all the data and documents provided by the developer, it is therefore concluded that GHB119 is substantially equivalent to its conventional counterpart.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date) November 18, 2023
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Bureau of Plant Industry
Contact person name:
Geronima P. Eusebio
Website:
Physical full address:
San Andres St., Malate, Manila
Phone number:
632 404 0409 loc 203
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Country introduction:

In 1987, scientists from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Quarantine Officer of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and the Director for Crops of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), recognizing the potential harm of the introduction of exotic species and genetic engineering, formed a committee and formulated the biosafety protocols and guidelines for genetic engineering and related research activities for UPLB and IRRI researchers. The committee went on to draft a Philippine biosafety policy, which was submitted to the Office of the President. On October 15, 1990, recognizing the potential for modern biotechnology both in improving the lives of the people and in creating hazards if not handled properly, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order 430 creating the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) that will formulate, review and amend national policy on biosafety and formulate guidelines on the conduct of activities on genetic engineering. The NCBP is comprised of representative of the Departments of Agriculture (DA); Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Health (DOH); and Science and Technology (DOST), 4 scientists in biology, environmental science, social science and physical science; and 2 respected members of the community. On July 16, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued the Policy Statement on Modern Biotechnology, reiterating the government policy on promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology. On April 3, 2002, Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8, Series of 2002 was issued implementing the guidelines for importation and release into the environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology. On March 17, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No.514 Establishing the National Biosafety Framework, prescribing guidelines for its implementation, reorganizing the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines, and for other purposes. On December 8, 2015, the Philippine Supreme Court declared DA AO8 null and void and any application for contained use, field testing, propagation and commercialization, and importation of GMOs was temporarily enjoined. In response to the nullification of DA AO8, the Technical Working Group composed of representatives from the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health (DOH), and Interior and Local Government (DILG) drafted the Joint Department Circular No. 1, Series of 2016 (JDC No.1, S2016) titled 'Rules and Regulations for the Research and Development, Handling and Use, Transboundary Movement, Release into the Environment, and Management of Genetically-Modified Plant and Plant Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology'. There were series of meeting and five public consultations conducted before the JDC No.1, S2016 was approved and signed by the Secretaries of the abovementioned agencies on March 7, 2016 and took effect on April 15, 2016. Under this Circular, more government agencies were involved such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to regulate applications for contained use and confined test of regulated articles; Department of Agriculture (DA) to evaluate applications for field trial, commercial propagation and transboundary movement of regulated articles; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to evaluate environmental risks and impacts of regulated articles; Department of Health (DOH) to evaluate of environmental health impacts of regulated articles; and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to supervise public consultation during field trial.

 

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Stacked events:

Gene stacking in plants can be conferred either through genetic engineering or conventional breeding A full risk assessment as to food and feed or for processing shall be conducted to plant products carrying stacked genes conferred through genetic engineering or conventional breeding, where the individual traits have no prior approval for direct use as food and feed or processing from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) A desktop or documentary risk assessment on the possible or expected interactions between the genes shall be conducted for stacked gene products with multiple traits conferred through conventional breeding and individual events granted prior approval by the Bureau of Plant Industry.

 

Plant Products Carrying Stacked Genes Conferred Through (a) Genetic Engineering or b) Conventional Breeding, with Individual Traits That Have No Prior Approval:

A full risk assessnent as to  food and feed or processing shall be conducted,consistent with Part V of AO No. 8,"Approval Process For the Importation of Regulated Articles for Direct Use as Food and Feed or For Processing for plant products with multiple traits conferred through:

(a) genetic engineering, or

(b) conventional breeding, where the individual traits have no prior approval from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for direct use as food and feed or processing.

Plant Products Carrying Stacked Genes Conferred through Conventional Breeding:

For plant products with multiple traits conferred through conventional breeding,with all individual events granted prior approval and included in the Approval Registry, a notlfication shall be submitted by the technology developer to the BPI, which shall conduct an evaluation in accordance with the relevant criteria in Annex I of this Memorandum Circular. The list of data contained in Annex I will not preclude the inclusion of other issues and concerns that will be raised by the BPI and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) during the course of the desktop review.

Notificatlon Requirement for Plant Products Carrying Stacked Genes

All technology developers shall submit a notification to the Bureau of Plant Industry of their developed plant products carrying stacked genes and shall be required to comply with the relevant approval process listed above.

The Bureau of Plant Industry shall issue a certiflcate as to the approval of the stacked gene product and shall likewise include the transformation event in the official approval registry of plant products for food and feed or processing.

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Bureau of Plant Industry 692 San Andres St, Malate, Manila 1004

Republic of Korea
Name of product applicant: Bayer Korea Ltd.
Summary of application:

Glufosinate herbicide tolerance ,Lepidopteran insect resistance

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Date of authorization: 02/09/2013
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see the link below(in Korean).
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
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Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
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Website:
Physical full address:
Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, 187, Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheonbuk-do, 363-700, Korea
Phone number:
82-43-719-2360
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Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Singapore
Name of product applicant: Bayer CropScience
Summary of application:

Apply for use as food, feed and for processing 

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Date of authorization: 02/11/2020
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Cotton line GHB119 (BCS-GH005-8) has been developed to protect against Lepidopteran insect larvae, and is tolerant to herbicides containing glufosinate ammonium. Insect protection is conferred by expression of a modified Cry2Ae protein from Bacillus thuringiensis and herbicide tolerance is conferred by expression of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Cotton line GHB119 contains two novel gene cassettes. One contains a modified cry2Ae gene that encodes an insecticidal crystal protein and the other contains a bar gene that encodes a protein conferring tolerance to herbicides containing glufosinate ammonium. Molecular analyses indicate there is a single insertion site containing one complete copy of the two gene cassettes. The introduced genetic elements are stably inherited from one generation to the next. There are no known endogenous genes have been interrupted by the insertion of the new genetic material. GHB119 expresses two proteins, Cry2Ae and PAT, which are non-toxic and non-allergenic to humans. Compositional analyses showed that the key constituents in seed from cotton line GHB119 are equivalent to conventional cotton cultivars. GHB119 is considered as safe as food derived from conventional cotton cultivars.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
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Organization/agency name (Full name):
Singapore Food Agency (SFA)
Contact person name:
Dr Tan Yong Quan
Website:
Physical full address:
52 Jurong Gateway Road 14-01 JEM Office Tower Singapore 608550
Phone number:
(65)68052750
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Country introduction:

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is a Statutory Board established under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to oversee food safety and security. SFA’s mission is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food.  SFA adopts a risk-based approach to food safety. Foods with foodborne hazards that may pose potential food safety risks to consumers are subjected to more stringent checks, regardless of their country of origin. SFA has in place an integrated system to ensure that both imported and domestically produced foods are safe for consumption.  The system comprises control measures such as source accreditation, inspection and surveillance of food, laboratory analysis, food legislation and recall of food products, which safeguard food safety from farm to fork.

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Stacked events:

More information on the guidelines for the safety assessment of stacked events can be found on GMAC’s website:

http://www.gmac.sg/Index_Singapore_Guidelines_on_the_Release_of_Agriculture_Related_GMOs.html

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

United States of America
Name of product applicant: Bayer CropScience USA LP
Summary of application:

Cotton
Trait 1 Added Protein or DNA: Cry1Ab
Source: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. berliner
Intended Effect: Resistance to lepidopteran insects
Trait 2 Added Protein or DNA: Cry2Ae
Source: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. dakota
Intended Effect: Resistance to lepidopteran insects
Event Designation: GHB119

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Date of authorization: 26/01/2012
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please consult the website links below.
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Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: FDA's webpage regarding this variety
EPA Registered Plant Incorporated Protectants
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Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food and Drug Administration
Contact person name:
Jason Dietz
Website:
Physical full address:
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park MD 20740
Phone number:
240-402-2282
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Country introduction:

The United States is currently in the process of populating this database. The Food and Drug Administration regulates food and feed (food for humans and animals) from genetically engineered crops in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA regulates pesticides, including those that are plant incorporated protectants genetically engineered into food crops, to make sure that pesticide residues are safe for human and animal consumption and do not pose unreasonable risks of harm to human health or the environment. FDA In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its "Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties" (the 1992 policy). The 1992 policy clarified the agency's interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human and animal foods derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods. The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using genetic engineering (also known as recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology). In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about foods from genetically engineered plants under development and developers have routinely done so. In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize food from a genetically engineered plant meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the genetically engineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food. FDA evaluates the submission and if FDA has questions about the summary provided, it requests clarification from the developer. At the conclusion of the consultation FDA responds to the developer by letter. The approach to the safety assessment of genetically engineered food recommended by FDA during consultations, including data and information evaluated, is consistent with that described in the Codex Alimentarius Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants. EPA The safe use of pesticidal substances is regulated by EPA. Food from a genetically engineered plant that is the subject of a consultation with FDA may contain an introduced pesticidal substance, also known as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP), that is subject to food (food for humans and animals) safety and environmental review by EPA. PIPs are pesticidal substances produced by plants and the genetic material necessary for the plant to produce the substance. Both the PIP protein and its genetic material are regulated by EPA. When assessing the potential risks of PIPs, EPA requires studies examining numerous factors, such as risks to human health, non-target organisms and the environment, potential for gene flow, and insect resistance management plans, if needed. In regulating PIPs, decisions are based on scientific standards and input from academia, industry, other Federal agencies, and the public. Before the first PIP product was registered in 1995, EPA required that PIP products be thoroughly tested against human safety standards before they were used on human food and livestock feed crops. EPA scientists assessed a wide variety of potential effects associated with the use of PIPs, including toxicity, and allergenicity. These potential effects were evaluated in light of the public's potential exposures to these pesticides, taking into account all potential combined sources of the exposure (food, drinking water, etc.) to determine the likelihood that a person exposed at these levels would be predisposed to a health risk. Based on its reviews of the scientific studies and often peer reviews by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Scientific Advisory Panel, EPA determined that these genetically engineered PIP products, when used in accordance with approved label directions and use restrictions, would not pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment during their time-limited registration.

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Stacked events:

Stacked events that are each plant incorporated protectants, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, must be registered by the Envriornmental Protection Agency before they can be commercialized.  Food/feed safety asssessment of single events are generally sufficient to ensure the safety of food/feed from stacked events.   

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food and Drug Administration ([email protected]); Environmental Protection Agency