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GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Genetically
modified foods and food ingredients are becoming popular,
world wide, as measures to enhance productivity, decrease
the use of certain agricultural chemicals, and also
to modify the inherent properties of crops, rendering
them added nutritional value or even an increased shelf
life.
While
scientists are engaged in the research and cultivation
of GM crops for their benefits, consumers and food experts
are concerned with the safety of such foods and the
potential adverse affects, if any, on human health and
the environment.
Countries
around the world have adopted different regulations/positions
regarding permitting trade of such food and food ingredients
within their countries.
The
Codex Alimentarius Commission is addressing this issue
through an Ad hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology,
which has been set up to develop standards, guidelines
or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived
from biotechnology.
Besides,
the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) is addressing
the labelling issues that will ultimately be taken up
in the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged
Foods.
The
Draft Amendment (Definitions) under Section 2 of the
Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged
Foods
The proposed amendment on definition was adopted at
Step 5 by the 23rd Session of CAC(2000) and considered
at the 28th Session of CCFL (5-9 May 2000), which made
a number of amendments and returned the text to Step
6 for comments.
It
was reconsidered at the 29th Session of CCFL (2001)
in light of comments
During
these sessions there had been extensive debate on the
use of these terms "modern biotechnology"
and "genetically modified / engineered".
Several
delegations were of the opinion that the term modern
biotechnology should be used to ensure consistency throughout
the Codex text and with the Cartegena
Protocol on Biosafety, whereas others
were in favour of retaining the latter in the labelling
provisions as it was a term more commonly used and understood
by consumers, world wide, and corresponding to the regulations
established in most countries.
The
Committee had agreed to include both definitions as
a compromise and advance the draft amendment to Step
8 for consideration at the 24th Session of the Commission
held during 2-7 July 2001.
However, due to lack of consensus on the appropriate
terminology, the Commission returned the draft amendment
to Step 6 for further comments and consideration by
CCFL.
The
30th Session of CCFL (2002) re-discussed the issue and
again could not reach a consensus and decided to return
the draft amendment to Step 6, for further comments
and discussion at the next Session, with the addition
of footnotes as proposed by Spain stating that the terminology
used in this section did not affect the terminology
in actual labelling.
Draft
Amendment to the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged
Foods:
Section 4.2.2 Labelling of Foods obtained through Certain
Techniques of Genetic Modification/ Genetic Engineering
(Declaration of Allergens)
The
24th Session of the Commission (2001) adopted at Step
8 an amendment as proposed by the 28th Session of CCFL
(2000) regarding declaration of allergens in food and
food ingredients obtained from biotechnology.
Proposed
Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods Obtained
through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/
Genetic Engineering (Proposed Draft Amendment to the
General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods-
Section 5 Additional Mandatory Labelling)
A Working Group established at the 27th Session of CCFL(1999)
had presented a revised proposed draft amendment to
Section 5, which contained two options:
The
first option requires labelling when the products
obtained through biotechnology differ significantly
from the corresponding food as regards, composition,
nutritional value or intended use.
The
second option requires the declaration of the method
of production for
- foods
and ingredients composed of or containing genetically
modified / engineered organisms,
or
- food
or food ingredients produced from but not containing
genetically modified / engineered organisms if they
contain protein or DNA resulting from gene technology
or differ significantly from the corresponding food.
There
was divided support for both options, and the implications
of mandatory labelling as regards enforcement, methodology,
economic cost and consumer perception was brought to
the attention of the Committee. The difficulties likely
to be faced by developing countries were also pointed
out.
Regarding
the threshold levels in Option 2, it was pointed out
that the analytical methods should be considered by
the Codex Committee on Method of Analysis and Sampling
(CCMAS).
The
Delegation of India and Norway supported by other delegations
and observer organizations expressed the view that all
food and food ingredients produced by genetic engineering
should be labelled and that labelling should be mandatory.
Recognizing
the diversity of opinions among member countries, the
Committee decided to return the proposed draft amendment
to Step 3. It was decided that a Working Group coordinated
by Canada would continue its deliberations in order
to combine the different labelling options proposed
during discussions.
The
drafting group convened two meetings, in India and Brazil,
respectively, before the 29th Session of CCFL (2001).
As a result of the extensive discussions, the Working
Group revised the text in the form of Guidelines, which
allowed different labelling options, including comprehensive
labelling, and provided guidance on the labelling requirements
in each case.
The
29th and 30th Sessions of CCFL (2001 and 2002) discussed
the proposed drafts, Section wise in great details.
However recognizing that no consensus could be reached
on several important issues, amended the draft guidelines
as a result of discussions at the Sessions and returned
it to Step 3 for further comments and consideration
at the next session.
Adhoc
Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
The
Task Force, which is required to complete its work by
2003, has held three Sessions in Japan, the first being
from 14-17 March 2000 and the second from 25 to 29 March
2001, and the third from 4-8 March 2002.
The
First Session agreed to an overall work programme as
follows
Progress
of the work of the Task Force through these sessions
as well as meetings of the two open ended working groups
are as follows:
"Proposed
Draft Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived
from Modern Biotechnology" were approved by
the 24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
at Step 5 and advanced to Step 6. These were considered
at Step 7 at the third session and advanced to Step
8 for consideration by the 25th Session of the Commission
(12-15 February 2003)
"Proposed
Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Safety Assessment
of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants"
were approved by the 24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission at Step 5 and advanced to Step 6. These were
considered at Step 7 at the third session and advanced
to Step 8 for consideration by the 25th Session of the
Commission (12-15 February 2003)
An
annex on" the assessment of allergenicity"
is under preparation and was considered at Step 4 at
the 3rd Session and recommended for adoption by the
25th Session of the Commission at Steps 5 and 8 omitting
Steps 6 and 7 (12-15 February 2003);
"Proposed
Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Safety Assessment
of Foods Derived from Recombinant - DNA Plants"
was elaborated by the Working Group established at the
first session, circulated for comments at Step 3 and
advanced to Step 5 for consideration at the 24th Session
of CAC (2001) which advanced it to Step 6. At the 3rd
Session this draft was agreed to be advanced for adoption
by 25th Session of the Commission (12-15 February 2003);
New
work on "Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct
of Safety Assessment of Modified Microorganisms in Food"
was agreed to be initiated and approved by the 24th
Session of the Commission. At the 3rd session of the
Task Force it was advanced to Step 5 for consideration
at the next session of the Executive Committee.
Analytical
methods including those for the detection or identification
of foods or food ingredients derived from biotechnology:
A first "List of methods validated by inter-laboratory
studies" was prepared by the Working Group and
a circular letter had been addressed to members to:
- complement
the existing list with documented information on
further validated detection methods as well as extraction
methods;
- provide
information on the criteria of validation as well
as performance criteria and specificity of methods;
- comment
on the status of publication of validated methods;
- provide
opinions on the purpose of a register containing
relevant information on methods suitable for the
detection of modifications in foods or food ingredients
derived from biotechnology and on criteria for their
inclusion into a register;
- comment
on the appropriate place(s) of a register;
- provide
opinions on how the access to reference materials
could be guaranteed.
Based
on the recommendation of the Working Group, the Task
Force agreed to:
-
forward
to the Codex Committee For Methods of Analysis And
Sampling (CCMAS) for consideration this agreed list;
-
propose
to CCMAS to consider further methods of analysis
-
propose
through CAC that FAO, WHO and the FAO/IAEA Joint
Division for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture
encourage the development and maintenance of information
of methods under development and not yet validated
in cooperation with national /regional institutions.
It
was noted that the FAO Biosecurity Portal was under
development in cooperation with WHO and other agencies.
It was envisaged that registries of official information,
such as methods of analysis would be available through
this Portal.
The
fourth Session of the Task Force is scheduled to be
held from 10-14 March 2003 in Yokohama, Japan.
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