Biotech Updates

EFSA Launches Updated Guidance for Food and Feed Risk Assessment of GM Plants

May 27, 2011

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released an updated guidance for food and feed risk assessment of GM plants. The guidance contains the latest developments in areas such as assessment of allergenicity and selection of conventional plant against which the GM plant is compared. A new statistical method was also established and included in the document for a more improved risk assessment of GM plants.

Riitta Maijala, EFSA's Director of Scientific Evaluation of Regulated Products, commented: "This important document is the result of several years work by the EFSA GMO Panel. It will ensure continued rigor in the application process, strengthen and promote consistency in data provided by applicants and, ultimately, contribute to an even higher level of consumer protection from potential risks associated with the use of GM food and feed."

For more details, visit http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2150.htm.