Suchergebnisse

It is difficult to trace and identify genome-edited food and feed products if relevant information is not made available to competent authorities. This results in major challenges, as genetically modified organism (GMO) regulatory frameworks for food and feed that apply to countries such as the member states of the European Union (EU) require enforcement based on detection. An international anticipatory detection and identification framework for voluntary collaboration and collation of disclosed information on genome-edited plants could be a valuable tool to address these challenges caused by data gaps. Scrutinizing different information sources and establishing a level of information that is sufficient to unambiguously conclude on the application of genome editing in the plant breeding process can support the identification of genome-edited products by complementing the results of analytical detection. International coordination to set up an appropriate state-of-the-art database is recommended to overcome the difficulty caused by the non-harmonized bio-safety regulation requirements of genome-edited food and feed products in various countries. This approach helps to avoid trade disruptions and to facilitate GMO/non-GMO labeling schemes. Implementation of the legal requirements for genome-edited food and feed products in the EU and elsewhere would substantially benefit from such an anticipatory framework.

Genetically modified plants (GMP) are regulated by comprehensive EU legislation. Cisgenesis, intragenesis, oligo-directed mutagenesis (ODM), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), and agroinfiltration were examined concerning detection, traceability, labeling, and risk assessment. Similar transformation methods -- as in transgenesis using genetic elements from same or cross-compatible plant species -- characterize cisgenesis and intragenesis. Targeting the genome with ODM or ZFN minimizes unintended effects, but current data indicate limited efficiency and specificity; modifications are similar to those occurring during traditional plant breeding. The characteristics of plants produced by these techniques affect detection in the supply chains. Detection is possible when the target site is known, except for agroinfiltration that aims at transient expression of a gene/trait. The basis to assess potential risks arising from relevant plants and derived food and feed is similar to that of GMP. Depending on the specifics of the plant under investigation, data requirements for regulators may be reconsidered case-by-case.