Governments will continue to use genetic modification (GM) testing methods to enforce regulation of agricultural biotechnology and ensure products comply with these regulations. To forge efforts at harmonization, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) prepared a report on the “Sampling and detection methods for products of modern agricultural biotechnology in NAFTA countries”. The report authored by Anne Bridges and a project working group forward key requirements that can enhance testing predictability and ensure cost effective food supply management:

• Consistent test results for a product through the food supply chain
• Recognition that the testing marketplace for GM needs standards and standardization
• Recognition that all methods are not created equal and that sampling is critical

Among the recommendations of the report include the need for a network for technical capacity building, collaborative agreement between countries to develop guidelines for method performance and validation criteria; and development of suitable reference materials and opportunities for discussion. ILSI is a nonprofit, worldwide foundation established to advance the understanding of scientific issues relating to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, risk assessment, and the environment.

Read more about this report at http://www.ilsi.org/.