Statements and Comments

Biotechnology

ASTA Position Statement on Genetically Modified Plant Varieties

The improvement of crop varieties by genetic modification has been the main objective of plant breeders since the inception of plant breeding. Plant breeders have always used the most modern techniques available, including inter-specific hybridization, polyploidization, embryo rescue, mutagenesis and cell fusion. Most of these processes don’t occur naturally, and yet, they have been employed safely for decades. Plant breeders have always taken into consideration the safety of the varieties they develop.

Most recently, plant breeders have employed more modern methods of gene transfer, commonly known as genetic engineering, as the next advance in a continuing chain of tools for improving crops. Gene transfer through recombinant DNA and related newer techniques offer the most predictable, and therefore, the safest methods to modify plant varieties. As with other technologies, plant breeders are very deeply aware of the importance of the safety issues related to varieties developed through gene transfer.

In fact, numerous authoritative groups worldwide have concluded that modern gene transfer technologies offer no unique risk to human or animal health or the environment. These groups include official commissions, scientific bodies, and international organizations, such as the OECD and the Codex Alimentarius, which are staffed with experts from all relevant disciplines. Furthermore, plant varieties developed through recombinant DNA and related newer technologies are often subjected to rigorous evaluations of food and feed safety, as well as environmental safety.

These safety assessments should be harmonized among countries and based on widely accepted principle of substantial equivalence, as recommended by the OECD and FAO/WHO. Countries should take immediate steps toward the mutual acceptance of food and feed safety assessments in order to avoid unnecessary and duplicative national approval processes.

ASTA believes that:

- Once a new plant variety has been reviewed by a recognized authority to be safe for human or animal health and the environment, the progeny resulting from crosses of that variety with other varieties of the same species should also be regarded as safe.

- Once a new plant variety has been recognized as substantially equivalent to existing plant varieties in commerce, then there should be no further concerns about the safety of the new variety or of processed products as far as the method of variety development is concerned.

For these two above reasons, ASTA considers that mandatory labeling based solely on the method of production is unnecessary and technically unjustified.

Where such labeling is required for legal reasons, information should be provided in a clear way that is understandable to both farmers and consumers, consistent with applicable law. In addition to any required labeling, the seed industry offers an open information policy and documentation on their products and will do their best to make things clear, in order to enable rapid acceptance.

If a food product derived from new plant varieties is not substantially equivalent to an existing product, it may be appropriate to label the product to indicate the characteristic or other food property which is different. This could include situations where the composition, nutritional value or intended use are different.

ASTA strongly supports the safe use of new modern genetic methods in the continuing effort to improve crop varieties. The safety of crops modified by modern biotechnology is ensured through a most rigorous and comprehensive set of regulatory systems. The resulting varieties hold great promise for improving the food and feed supply of the world and promoting environmental sustainability, just as past accomplishments of plant breeders have benefited the world.