Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Index describing 113 incidents and has consistently argued that “coex-
istence” of fields with GM and non-GM crops is impossible without
contamination.
The third problem is that once cross-contamination is detected, trac-
ing the source of GMOs is difficult, which calls into question the capac-
ity to enforce labeling policies. Finally, not all foods are covered, for
instance there are no procedures to label meat and dairy.
One way the technical and policy communities responded to the pub-
lic concerns about GMOs and institutional ability to control the atten-
dant risks has been to develop increasingly sophisticated methods for
testing, monitoring, early problem detection, and risk assessment.
36
They
also concentrated on modifying and refining existing expert-based assess-
ments. One expert-based assessment technique, proposed by the Food
and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, is the
concept of “substantial equivalence.”
37
Substantial equivalence embod-
ies the concept that “ ...if a new food or food component is found
to be substantially equivalent to an existing food or food component,
it can be treated in the same manner with respect to safety.”
38
This con-
cept has been criticized on the grounds that “. ...the degree of differ-
ence between a natural food and its GM alternative before its 'substance'
ceases to be 'equivalent' is not defined anywhere, nor has an exact defi-
nition been agreed [upon] by legislators.” Moreover, it is ironic that the
same actors who endorse the concept of “substantial equivalence” also
endorse the present right to patent new GMO life forms.
An EU-funded project proposes a more elaborate method for the
safety assessment of foods derived from GM crops: ENTRANSFOOD.
36
A. K. Deisingh & N. Badrie, Detection approaches for genetically modified organisms
in food, 38
Food Research International
639-649 (2005).
37
Y. Endo, & E. Boutrif, Plant Biotechnology and its International Regulation - FAO's
Initiative, 74
Livestock Production Science
217-222 (2002); S. Lieberman & T. Gray,
The So-called 'Moratorium' on the Licensing of New Genetically Modified (GM)
Products by the European Union 1998-2004: A Study in Ambiguity, 15
Environmental
Politics
592-609 (2006).
38
See Endo, supra.
