In April 2002, the Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases (formerly the Food Safety Department) of the World Health Organisation commissioned a study of the human health and development implications of genetically modified (GM) organisms and food products. The study involved a wide range of stakeholders, including FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international organizations. The report of the study, entitled "Modern food biotechnology, human health and development: an evidence-based study", has now been published. It presents an evidence-based analysis of GM foods in relation to several areas of interest. These areas are: the current and future use of GM foods, human health and environmental risk considerations for GM foods, the need for capacity building in developing countries, the issue of food security and social and ethical concerns as they relate to GM foods. See http://www.who.int/foodsafety/biotech/who_study/en/index.html (in English, French and Spanish) or contact [email protected] for more information.

08/07/2005