Public consultation on the draft Opinion "on the risk assessment of genetically modified plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes"
Deadline: 16/09/2008
EFSA's Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) has launched an open consultation on the draft Opinion concerning "the risk assessment of genetically modified plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes". This draft Opinion is an EFSA self-tasking issue (see Register of Questions (EFSA-Q-2007-176).
EFSA's role in the GMO authorisation process in Europe is to provide science-based risk assessment opinion for each authorisation application to the European Commission. Based on this opinion and other information the Commission presents a draft decision to the EU Member States who then can take decision on the GMO authorization.
The elements for the safety assessment procedure for genetically modified (GM) plants are provided in Directive 2001/18/EC. For GM plants and derived food and feed the data requirements and risk assessment criteria to be used by the applicant for the preparation and presentation of their authorisation application are further detailed in the EFSA GM plant Guidance document. These data requirements and risk assessment criteria were now evaluated and further elaborated where needed, for the safety assessment of GM plants with uses for non-food or non-feed purposes. In order not to duplicate information, this EFSA Guidance document applies and in addition, the present opinion is to be applied for plants developed for non-food or non-feed purposes.
Examples of GM plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes include plants producing medically useful biologically active molecules, such as vaccines and antibodies, diagnostic products, industrial enzymes or raw materials for the production of biopolymers, biofuels, paper or starch. Other non-food or non-feed purposes of GM plants include energy production, phytoremediation, landscape improvement and ornamentals.
In line with EFSA's policy on openness and transparency and in order for EFSA to receive comments from the scientific community and stakeholders on its work, EFSA engages in public consultations on key issues. In this respect EFSA would be grateful to receive relevant comments on its draft scientific Opinion on "the risk assessment of genetically modified plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes".
Comments must be related to the safety of GM plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes and their scientific/technical nature should be supported by appropriate scientific argumentation, justification and/or references.
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments by 16 September 2008. The outcome of this consultation will be taken into account for the revision of this Opinion before its adoption by the GMO panel. Please exclusively use the electronic template provided with the documents to submit comments and refer to the line numbering. Comments submitted by email or via surface mail cannot be taken into account.
Draft Scientific Opinion on the risk assessment of genetically modified plants used for non-food or non-feed purposes ![application/pdf]()
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