EFSA's new scientific opinion on assessing the possible allergenicity of GMOs | Checkbiotech

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	View Edit Domain: GreenBio Title: * Body: EFSA’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Panel has adopted a scientific opinion on strategies for assessing the risk of allergenicity of GM plants and microorganisms and derived food and feed. <br /> <br /> This opinion takes into account the results coming from the a consultation opened gather interested parties points of view.<br /> <br /> The <strong><a href="http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1700.htm">European Food Safety Agency's opinion on GMOs</a></strong> is part of its ongoing effort to ensure that its risk assessment always reflects the latest scientific developments and addresses the widest range of potential concerns. It takes into consideration <a href="http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1699.htm">a total of 181 comments, received during a 10-week public consultation, from 17 interested parties including: national assessment bodies, non-governmental organisations, business associations and universities, as well as individuals</a>. Comments mostly addressed the issue of how to implement the general approach for assessing the allergenicity of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), as well as how to interpret the results of the methods discussed in the opinion. Some comments also covered more technical aspects and are addressed in a series of specific annexes to the opinion.<br /> <br /> Genetically modified food and feed could contain quantities of new or existing proteins which might cause food allergies in people and animals. EU legislation therefore requires that the allergenicity of GMOs and food and feed derived from GMOs be assessed before they can be placed on the market. As part of this effort, <a href="http://euroalert.net/en/news.aspx?idn=10126">Commission has also recently released new recommendations about GMOs growing setting co-existence rules so they do not affect conventional and organic crops</a>.<br /> <br /> EFSA’s GMO Panel initiated this work in order to review and update current methodologies used to assess the allergenic potential of GM plants and microorganisms. In its opinion, the Panel concludes that, as there is no single test to assess the allergenicity of a GM food or feed, a case-by-case evaluation based on a weight-of-evidence approach is the most appropriate way to do this.<br /> <br /> In the opinion, the Panel describes how to analyse the sequence of the proteins in order to identify possible similarities with known allergens; how to test the potential of the proteins to bind with specific antibodies (suggesting they could trigger an allergic reaction); and how to assess the breakdown of the protein during digestion. In addition to assessing the new protein, the Panel recommends that for crops known to be allergenic, the whole GM plant is tested for allergenicity.<br /> <br /> Copyright ©1998-2010 Gateway S.C.S., S.L. \| All rights reserved<br /> Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles Dow AgroSciences, BioDuro to Collaborate on Crop Protection ... French GMO crops unlikely in 2012 despite end of ban Ghana: Biotechnology to Improve Agriculture More GMO crop propagation seen UK’s Two Main Political Parties Back GMOs And The US Agend... Mexican Progress on Biotech Crops German farm group regrets BASF’s GMO move to U.S. Biotech crops still viewed with suspicion ACP Parliamentary Assembly worried about food price volatili... Disgruntled GMO firms start pulling out of EU market Top GreenBio Articles

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