Regulation

Much of this controversy has to do with a public perception of little or low regulation of the science when creating/testing/producing GM food crops and products. I think it’s about time I dedicate a post to what really happens.

All of the following information I gained from http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/gmfoods/chiefscientistrespon3993.cfm, where Dr Brent, the Chief Scientist for Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), is responding to an article that discussed this apparent lack of regulation. I find the response very open, informative, and easy to read.

In the response, Dr Brent states how the approval of all GM food depends on the outcome of an independent pre-market safety assessment, which is performed by the scientists at FSANZ. The assessments are published on FSANZ website, in their entirety, and are open for comment by the public before anything is approved. The evaluation process used is based on principles developed internationally, which is followed by Canada, Europe, Japan, and the US.

It is important to note here that FSANZ is an independent organisation, not run by any agricultural company or anything like that (more about that can be found here: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/gmfoods/fsanzlettertotheedit3509.cfm)

The companies themselves must also adhere to strict data requirements for the entirety of the project (from the initial lab stuff, all the way to extensive field trials under commercial agriculture conditions). 

“These data must be further supported by biochemical and animal toxicity studies, generated in independently certified laboratories, on any new protein arising as a result of the introduced genetic change. To complete all of the studies necessary for the regulatory assessment generally takes between five and ten years and costs many millions of dollars. All data from these studies must be provided in extensive detail such that every individual measurement and reading is provided, not just summaries or averages as is the case for published material.   The strength of this system is that regulatory scientists around the world can independently assess the information and critically evaluate the results. Like other regulators, FSANZ does not hesitate to demand more safety studies where necessary.”

Here is another interesting point:

“The small group of studies often cited as showing harmful effects due to GM foods have, without exception, been discredited by the weight of mainstream scientific evidence and opinion, including that of the UK Royal Society, and by regulatory agencies around the world. Comprehensive assessment of the studies shows that they failed to conform to accepted methods and protocols, failed to properly identify the material being tested, or failed to reach conclusions based on rigorous and logically consistent interpretation of the results. Those who criticise the internationally agreed testing regimes for GM foods are conspicuously quiet when asked to elaborate in open forum on their proposed alternative methods for testing GM foods, and to submit their proposals to scrutiny by the broader scientific community.”

As far as environmental risks go, that’s for the Gene Technology Regulator to take care of. Again, the testing performed is rigorous and transparent, and no GM product will be approved unless it is proven unconditionally to be safe for human consumption as well as for the environment.

“Together, FSANZ and the Gene Technology Regulator represent a combined system of regulation that is serving Australians well. To imply a connection between the consumption of GM foods and ill-health in people is both misleading and unsupported by any credible evidence.”