Commission establishes round table on GMO safety to coincide with report on EU biosafety research report

The European Commission launched a round table on GMO (genetically modified organism) safety research on 9 October. The forum, set up on the initiative of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, coincides with the publication of a report on the results of Commission-supported ...

The European Commission launched a round table on GMO (genetically modified organism) safety research on 9 October. The forum, set up on the initiative of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, coincides with the publication of a report on the results of Commission-supported biosafety research over the past 15 years.

The discussions bring together European biosafety researchers and other stakeholders to discuss past, current and future biosafety research and related issues. It seeks to establish an ongoing forum for discussion and bolster scientific input to the debate on GMO safety.

Commissioner Busquin said: 'Between the enthusiastic exaggeration of certain GMO 'crusaders' and the radicalism of a minority among their opponents, there is an urgent need to find room for a reasonable compromise, based on sound and measured scientific arguments of risk assessment and prudent management.' He added: 'This is also an exercise reconciling science and society, bringing together scientists and the interested public to discuss the results of research and to jointly outline a future research agenda in a co-ordinated way across Europe.'

The Commission says that research carried out over the last 15 years on GM plants and products developed so far has not shown any greater risk to human health or the environment than conventional plant breeding. Indeed, the intense scrutiny and precise technology which accompanies the development of GM produce could even make them safer than traditional, unmodified plants and foods. The Commission said that the risk of unforeseen environmental effects was countered by the increasing evidence of benefits for human and environmental health. It added that any such effects would be quickly identified and remedied by the monitoring frameworks already in place.

The first meeting of the round table focuses on one particular crop, Bt maize, which was one of the first GM crops to be approved for cultivation in Europe. Following its approval in January 1997, a programme was established by the EU Member States to monitor insect resistance to Bt maize and any other adverse effects on human health or the environment. At least one Member State, Spain, has practical experience in growing Bt maize, while other Member States, including Austria, Italy and Luxembourg, have banned the product from their territories. Conventional maize is also widely grown in Europe, and a substantially body of research on Bt maize has been carried out. Large areas of Bt maize are being grown and monitored in third countries, mainly the USA.

Bt maize, produced by Swiss company Novartis, has been genetically engineered to express a toxin from the bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis, which protects it from pests such as the European Corn Borer.

The first round table workshop addresses all aspects of research results relating to benefits and risks for the environment of producing or cultivating Bt maize, including monitoring of insect resistance. The second workshop will address all aspects of research results relating to benefits and risks for animal and human health of the use of Bt maize as food or feed. A final plenary session will consider reports from the workshops, seek to arrive at some general conclusions and consensus positions and examine priorities for further research and monitoring activity.

Coinciding with the launch of the round table, the Commission is publishing a review of the results of the biosafety research which it has supported over the last 15 years. This work includes 81 projects which have received a total of 70 million euro of funding and have involved 400 teams from all over Europe.