The Consultation addressed specifically GM animals, including fish. Hereafter in this report GM animals includes not only terrestrial but also aquatic species.
The genetic modification of animals is a set of rapidly developing technologies which have a number of interesting and promising applications. It can be used:
in fundamental biomedical research to improve our genetic and physiological knowledge;
to make models of human diseases; for the production of proteins or other substances for therapeutic aims;
as an alternative source of cell tissues and organs for xenotransplantation;
to obtain or to improve desired features of farmed animals including fish, such as disease resistance and food production.
The Consultation addressed mainly the last application of this technology, namely the foods derived from genetically modified animals.
The objective of the Consultation was to provide scientific advice to FAO/WHO and their Member Governments on the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically modified animals. The Consultation devoted most of its time to discussing what strategies are appropriate and applicable to the food safety assessment of GM animals and in particular fish. Additionally, it addressed specific issues originating from the production of GM animals as well as environmental and ethical issues. The Consultation did not address all environmental issues but focused on the connection between environmental entry of GM animals and food safety. The inclusion of ethical issues in the discussion was considered important in the scope of the Consultation because of the public concerns associated with the introduction of this new technology.
The Consultation did not fully consider the safety assessment of cloning, especially somatic cell nuclear transplants.
Definitions. For the purpose of the Consultation, the following definitions have been used:
Modern biotechnology means the application of:
(i) in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or
(ii) fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family,
that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.[1]
Recombinant-DNA animal means terrestrial and aquatic species in which the genetic material has been changed through in vitro nucleic acid techniques including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles.
GM animals and transgenic animals are used interchangeably to mean recombinant DNA animals.
Transgene means the recombinant DNA that has been integrated in the genome of the GM animal.
Conventional counterpart means:
an unmodified terrestrial or aquatic animal from the same genetic source as the GM animal and with a known history of safe use in producing or processing food; or
food produced using traditional unmodified animals for which there is an experience of establishing safety based on common use in food production.
[1] This definition is taken
from the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention on Biological
Diversity. |