Standards Needed for Detecting Biotech-Derived Crops

Testing to detect biotech-derived crops needs to be effective, consistent, and predictable along the supply chain to satisfy commercial intellectual property and or/traceability requirements. Test method developers need to validate methods using internationally acceptable approaches, to demonstrate they are "fit for purpose" and transferable to practical testing environments. These points were stressed by Dr. Ray Shillito, External Technical Support Manager - America, Molecular and Biochemical Analytical Services of  Bayer CropScience, during a food safety assessment workshop in Dai Lai, Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam.

in his talk on "Analytical techniques for detection of biotechnology-derived crops" Shillito emphasized the need for standards and standardization; as well as for appropriate testing thresholds based on the sampling and test precision needs. Shillito is chairman of the working group of the International Life Sciences Institute Food Biotechnology Committee that prepared the publication "Sampling and detection methods for products of modern agricultural biotechnology in NAFTA countries."

The food safety workshop for experts from the Ministries of Health and Agriculture was organized by the Vietnam Food Administration and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.

Dr. Ray Shillito can be contacted at his email address: ray.shillito@bayercropscience.com.