BIO Applauds Codex Adoption of Guidelines on Low-Level Presence,
GE Animals
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The Biotechnology Industry Organization congratulates the Codex
Alimentarius Commission for approving key guidelines to further
promote the safety of products from agricultural plant and animal
biotechnology. The Codex Commission took final action today at its
31st session in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission and its member countries
approved today
-- the Annex on Food Safety Assessment in Situations of Low-Level
Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food (LLP
Annex),
-- the Annex on Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from
Recombinant DNA-Plants Modified for Nutritional or Health
Benefits, and
-- the Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of
Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, executive vice president, food and
agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued
the following statement in response to action taken this week by the
Commission:
"On behalf of its members, BIO commends the actions taken by Codex
this week. These standards represent Codex's commitment to promoting
food safety for consumers, while embracing scientific advances and
fostering trade of biotech-derived agriculture products.
"BIO and its members applaud the U.S. government and other
governments around the world for moving these science-based guidelines
to adoption by Codex.
"Adoption of guidance related to food safety assessments of
low-level presence is essential to facilitate international trade
while regulating incidental or trace amounts of biotechnology events
in food and feed products. The new guidance recognizes that low-level
presence is a natural part of plant biology, seed production and the
distribution of commodity crops, and it can be managed in ways that
ensure food safety and minimize trade disruptions.
"Adoption of the guidelines for risk assessment of the safety of
foods derived from genetically engineered (GE) animals represents a
policy breakthrough in the area of animal biotechnology. Codex
standards are recognized as international benchmarks and act as models
for governments in the establishment of their own food safety
policies.
"Approval of the guidelines can now pave the way for the United
States and other countries to develop science-based regulatory
processes to govern the use of GE animals. GE animals are being
developed to advance human and animal health, enhance food production,
mitigate environmental impact and provide for high-tech industrial
products.
"The Codex-approved texts on plant and animal biotechnology serve
as science-based guidance, which will further enhance consumer safety
and health while promoting the trade of biotech-derived products. This
represents a tremendous step forward for farmers, traders and
biotechnology industries in the United States and around the world."
In 2006, the Codex Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
agreed to draft an international guidance for food safety assessment
of low-level presence of biotech products authorized as safe for use
in food, feed, grain and derived products in one or more countries,
including country of cultivation, but not yet in the country of
import. In September, 2007 the members of the Codex Task Force
unanimously agreed on the draft Annex that was considered and adopted
by the Commission this week.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World
Health Organization (WHO).
Codex, which comprises about 165 countries worldwide, is a
scientific body that develops the international standards for food
safety aimed at protecting public health and promoting fair trade
practices.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations
across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO
members are involved in the research and development of innovative
healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology
products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the
world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with
industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the
world.
Upcoming BIO Events
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-- Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
Sept. 10-12, 2008
Vancouver, BC
-- BIO Investor Forum 2008
October 29-31, 2008
San Francisco, CA
-- BIO-Europe 2008
November 17-19, 2008
Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany
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BIO
Karen Batra, 202-449-6382
kbatra@bio.org
Copyright Business Wire 2008
