What are GMOs?
Food and feed generally originate from plants and animals grown and bred by humans for several thousands of years. Over time, those plants and animals with the most desirable traits were chosen for breeding the next generations of food and feed. This was, for example, the case for plants with an increased resistance to environmental pressures such as diseases, or with an increased yield.
These desirable traits appeared through naturally occurring variations in the genetic make-up of those plants and animals. In recent times, it has become possible to modify the genetic make-up of living cells and organisms using techniques of modern biotechnology called gene technology. The genetic material is modified artificially to give it a new property (e.g. a plant's resistance to a disease, insect or drought, a plant's tolerance to an herbicide, improving a food's quality or nutritional value, increased crop productivity).
Such organisms are called "genetically modified organisms" (GMOs). Food and feed which contain or consist of such GMOs, or are produced from GMOs, are called "genetically modified (GM) food or feed".
What is the EU approach on GMOs?
The approach chosen in the EU as regards GMOs is a precautionary approach imposing a pre-market authorisation for any GMO to be placed on the market and a post-market environmental monitoring for any authorised GMO. This approach ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health and the environment.
The GMO legislation lays down specific procedures for assessing and authorising GMOs that are time-limited and transparent. The risk assessment is performed on the basis of harmonised criteria which are recognised as being amongst the most stringent in the world.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in collaboration with Member States' scientific bodies, is responsible for the risk assessment which needs to demonstrate that, under its intended conditions of use, the product is safe for human and animal health and the environment.
Once finalised, the risk assessment is the basis upon which the Commission proposes a decision to Member States accepting or rejecting the authorisation for the placing on the market of a GMO. Both the Commission and Member States are therefore involved in the authorisation of these GMOs.
The legislation also imposes a post-market monitoring of the environment for each authorised GMO allowing the Commission and Member States to take appropriate measures in case a non-anticipated adverse effect is identified.
Finally, in order to provide consumers with information and freedom of choice, traceability and labelling obligations are imposed for any authorised GMO.
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