Food safety and quality
| share
 

OECD Unique Identifier details

IND-ØØ41Ø-5
Commodity: Soyabean / Soybeans
Traits: Increased resistance to environmental stresses that reduce crop yield
Argentina
Name of product applicant: INDEAR S.A.
Summary of application:

Soybean genetically modified by the introduction of the HaHB4 and bar genes, exhibits the phenotype of tolerance to various environmental stresses, including drought tolerance, which allows the plant to maintain and provide an increase in yield under adverse environmental conditions, and confer the phenotype of tolerance to herbicides based on glufosinate-ammonium.
The transcription factor HAHB4 is a product of expression of the HaHB4 gene. The expression of HAHB4 in transgenic plants is able to generate the phenotype of tolerance to drought, but does not trigger in the plant processes foreign to their normal physiological mechanisms. Through the delicate regulation of the response to ethylene and other phytohormones, a series of signaling pathways allow the plant to cope with the lack of water while awaiting the cessation of stress, thus remaining in adequate conditions to continue its growth by improving conditions.
As for the PAT protein, the enzyme encoded by the bar gene, like other L-phosphinothricin-N-acetyl transferases, is highly substrate-specific, and catalyzes the N-acetylation of L-phosphinothricin (L-ppt) . L-Glutamate (the closest analog to L-ppt) and other related compounds (such as methionine-sulphoximine or hydroxylysine) are very poor substrates for this enzyme.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 09/09/2015
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
• Inheritance studies conducted indicated that Mendelian segregation exists. • New expression proteins are expressed in low levels. • It is compositionally equivalent to its non-transgenic counterpart. • No evidence of similarity or homology was found with known toxic proteins. • There is no evidence of expression of known allergenic substances for the proteins expressed in the event. It is concluded that the event is substantially equivalent to its conventional counterpart, therefore, it is as safe and no less nutritious than conventional commercial varieties.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: GMO commercial approvals in Argentina
GMO approvals for food/feed
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de Agroindustria
Contact person name:
Andrés Maggi
Website:
Physical full address:
Paseo Colón Avenue 367, 3° floor, City of Buenos Aires
Phone number:
54 11 5222 5986
Fax number:
Country introduction:

In Argentina, the food and feed risk assessment process of transformation events, as the result of modern biotechnology, is carried out by the National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa). The General Office of Biotechnology, is the area responsible for carrying out this task. It has an specific professional team and the advise of a Technical Advisory Committee composed of experts from several scientific disciplines representing different sectors involved in the production, industrialization, consumption, research and development of genetically modified organisms.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

Stacked events with all single events approved, are assessed as a new event, but with much less requirements, always on a case-by-case basis.

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa)

https://www.argentina.gob.ar/senasa

 

https://www.argentina.gob.ar/senasa/programas-sanitarios/biotecnologia

Australia
Name of product applicant: Bioceres Crop Solutions
Summary of application:

FSANZ has received an application from Bioceres Crop Solutions to vary Schedule 26 in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). The variation is to include food derived from the genetically modified (GM) soybean line IND-00410-5, with the OECD Unique Identifier IND-ØØ41Ø-5. This soybean line is tolerant to drought and the herbicide glufosinate.


Drought tolerance is achieved by expression of a sunflower transcription factor HaHB4 that drives the expression of abiotic stress response genes. The response increases the plant's tolerance to environmental stresses such as water scarcity and salinity, preventing crop yield loss. Tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate is achieved by the expression of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) enzyme. PAT is encoded by the bar gene, which is derived from the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Both the PAT protein and the HaHB4 protein have been assessed previously by FSANZ.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 30/11/2023
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
The safety assessment of soybean line IND-00410-5 is in Risk assessment supporting document. No potential public health and safety concerns have been identified. Based on the data provided and other information, food derived from soybean line IND-00410-5 is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional non-GM soybean varieties.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: A1264 - Food derived from drought-tolerant and herbicide-tolerant soybean line IND-00410-5
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Contact person name:
Gaya Subramaniam
Website:
Physical full address:
Level 4, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park ACT 2609, Australia
Phone number:
+61 2 6271 2222
Fax number:
+61 2 6271 2278
Country introduction:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the regulatory agency responsible for the development of food standards in Australia and New Zealand. The main office (approximately 115 staff) is located in Canberra (in the Australian Capital Territory) and the smaller New Zealand office (approximately 10 staff) is located in Wellington on the North Island.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

FSANZ does not: Separately assess food from stacked event lines where food from the GM parents has already been approved; Mandate notification of stacked events by developers; Notify the public of stacked event ‘approvals’; List food derived from stacked event lines in the Code, unless the stacked event line has been separately assessed as a single line e.g. Application A518: MXB-13 cotton (DAS-21023-5 x DAS-24236-5)

No separate approval or safety assessment is necessary for foods derived from a stacked GM line that is the result of traditional breeding between a number of GM parent lines for which food has already been approved. Food from the parent lines must be listed in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The parent lines may contain any number of different genes. If food from any of the GM parent lines has not been approved, then a full pre-market safety assessment of food from the stacked line must be undertaken.

No separate approval is required for food derived from a line that is the product of a GM line, for which food has been approved, crossed traditionally with a non-GM line.

Where a single line containing a number of genes has been produced as a result of direct gene technology methods (rather than traditional crossing) then food derived from the line must undergo a full pre-market safety assessment before approval can be given

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au)

Brazil
Name of product applicant: Tropical Melhoramento e Genética S/A - TMG
Summary of application:

Commercial release of genetically modified soy tolerant to
herbicides and drought - HB4 - IND-ØØ41Ø-5.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 09/05/2019
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
The Environmental Biosafety Report and food safety of HB4 soy, complied with the norms of Normative Resolution N.5 of CTNBio, which deals with the Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Organisms and their derivatives. The results of studies carried out in Brazil and other countries and information referenced by the scientific literature, covering: the characterization of the insert being inherited as a monogenic character; agronomic evaluation, expression of exogenous proteins, chemical and nutritional composition; stability to digestion and industrial processing; digestibility, abundance of soil microorganisms, pollen morphology and viability; voluntary plants; ecological and symbiotic interactions; seed vigor and germination; effectiveness in insect control; soil physical-chemical characteristics; degradation of proteins in Brazilian soils showed that soybean TLC does not have a greater potential to cause significant degradation of the environment, or to have adverse effects on human and animal health when compared to conventional soy. It is considered that HB4 soy is not potentially a cause of significant degradation of the environment or damage to human and animal health, keeping the relationship with biota identical to conventional soy.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
molecular traditional methods
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date) not applicable
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
National Biosafety Technical Commission
Contact person name:
Paulo Augusto Viana Barroso
Website:
Physical full address:
SPO Area 5 Qd 3 Bl B S 10.1 Brasilia DF
Phone number:
556120335087
Fax number:
Country introduction:

Brazil had the first biosafety law approved in 1995. After the identification of the need to improve the biosafety system of Brazilian genetically modified organisms, a new law was published. The Law 11.105 / 05 establishes a technical committee dedicated to the analysis of the safety aspects of genetically modified organisms and a council of ministers that is dedicated to the analysis of the socioeconomic aspects of the commercial release of genetically modified organisms. In this context, Brazil already has several commercial products that involve genetically modified organisms (plants, human and veterinary vaccines, microorganisms for fuel production) and products derived from new genetic modification techniques.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

At the discretion of, and upon consultation with, CTNBio, a new analysis and issuance of technical opinion may be released on GMOs containing more than one event, combined through classic genetic improvement and which have been previously approved for commercial release by CTNBio

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Dr. Paulo Augusto Viana Barroso (President of national Biosafety Commission)

Canada
Name of product applicant: Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp.
Summary of application:

Verdeca LLC. has developed a genetically modified Glycine max L. (soybean) variety which exhibits increased tolerance to environmental stresses (resulting in reduced crop yield loss) and tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides.


HB4 soybean was developed through the introduction of two genes: a HaHB4 gene encoding a transcription factor belonging to the sub-family I of HD-Zip family (HAHB4), and a bar gene encoding a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) protein.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 27/05/2021
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see decision document weblink.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Novel Foods Decision Document
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Health Canada
Contact person name:
Neil Strand
Website:
Physical full address:
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, PL 2204A1
Phone number:
613-946-1317
Fax number:
Country introduction:

Federal responsibility for the regulations dealing with foods sold in Canada, including novel foods, is shared by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Health Canada is responsible for establishing standards and policies governing the safety and nutritional quality of foods and developing labelling policies related to health and nutrition. The CFIA develops standards related to the packaging, labelling and advertising of foods, and handles all inspection and enforcement duties. The CFIA also has responsibility for the regulation of seeds, veterinary biologics, fertilizers and livestock feeds. More specifically, CFIA is responsible for the regulations and guidelines dealing with cultivating plants with novel traits and dealing with livestock feeds and for conducting the respective safety assessments, whereas Health Canada is responsible for the regulations and guidelines pertaining to novel foods and for conducting safety assessments of novel foods.

The mechanism by which Health Canada controls the sale of novel foods in Canada is the mandatory pre-market notification requirement as set out in Division 28 of Part B of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Manufacturers or importers are required under these regulations to submit information to Health Canada regarding the product in question so that a determination can be made with respect to the product's safety prior to sale. The safety criteria for the assessment of novel foods outlined in the current guidance document (i.e. Canadian Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods) were derived from internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed through the work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These guidelines provide for both the rigour and the flexibility required to determine the need for notification and to conduct the safety assessment of the broad range of food products being developed. This flexibility is needed to allow novel foods and food products to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and to take into consideration future scientific advances.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

Food: Consistent with the definition of "novel food" in Division 28 of the Food and Drug Regulations, the progeny derived from the conventional breeding of approved genetically modified plants (one or both parents are genetically modified) would not be classified as a novel food unless some form of novelty was introduced into such progeny as a result of the cross, hence triggering the requirement for pre-market notification under Division 28. For example, notification may be required for modifications observed in the progeny that result in a change of existing characteristics of the plant that places those characteristics outside of the accepted range, or, that introduce new characteristics not previously observed in that plant (e.g. a major change has occurred in the expression levels of traits when stacked). In addition, the use of a wild species (interspecific cross) not having a history of safe use in the food supply in the development of a new plant line may also require notification to Health Canada. However, molecular stacks are considered new events and are considered to be notifiable as per Division 28.

Feed:

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Neil Strand, Section Head of Novel Foods

Colombia
Name of product applicant: Rizobacter de Colombia S.A.S
Summary of application:

GMO authorization for HB4 Wheat as food for direct use or processing.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 15/02/2022
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Based on the risk assessment, it can be concluded that the event shows the same risks as its conventional counterpart. Therefore, the National Technical Committee for GMO use exclusively in health and human consumption (CTNSalud) recommends its authorization.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date) NO
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de salud y proteccion social
Contact person name:
Daniel Rubio
Website:
Physical full address:
Carrera 13 No. 32- 76 piso 12, Bogotá
Phone number:
330 5000 ext 1256
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The 4525 decree of 2005, established the Ministry of Health and Social Protection as the competent authority for GMO for health and food purposes and creates the National Biosafety Technical Committee for GMO's used in health and food purposes (CTNSalud).

The CTNSalud is composed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA) and the Technology and Innovation Administrative Department (COLCIENCIAS). This committee is responsible for the assesment of risk assessments; to inquire for any additional information; assessment of any measurements in accordance to the Cartagena Protocol; and the recommendation for the authorization of GMO for health or food purposes.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Malaysia
Name of product applicant: Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia Rosario (INDEAR)
Summary of application:

Please refer to the decision document of the National Biosafety Board.

Upload:
Date of authorization: 02/11/2023
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): Department of Biosafety Malaysia
CBD Biosafety Clearing House
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please refer to the Risk Assessment Report.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Department of Biosafety Malaysia
Contact person name:
Dr. Anita Anthonysamy
Website:
Physical full address:
Department of Biosafety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Level 4, Block F11, Complex F Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Phone number:
+60380917322
Fax number:
+60380917371
Country introduction:

GM food safety assessment is a requirement by law under the Biosafety Act 2007 in Malaysia. The National Biosafety Board reviews and makes decisions on events based on a scientific/technical risk assessment, policy considerations as well as public input. The decisions and its related documents made are publicly available through the Malaysian Department of Biosafety Website and the Convention of Biological Diversity Biosafety Clearing House.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Department of Biosafety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Level 4, Block F11, Complex F Lebuh Perdana Timur, Precinct 1 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia. Email: [email protected]. Url: www. biosafety.gov.my

Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health, Level 4, Menara Prisma, No. 26, Persiaran Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia, 62675. Phone: +603 88850797 Fax: +603 88850790 Email: [email protected]
Paraguay
Name of product applicant: INDEAR
Summary of application:

Soybean (Glycine max) was modified to express sunflower (Helianthus annuus) homeobox-leucine zipper protein 4 (HaHB4) gene to confer tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as drought and hypersaline conditions. In transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana experiments, the plants expressing HB4 survived in water-limited conditions, while wild-type plants perished.

Note: The Streptomyces hygroscopicus bar gene was also inserted into the genome and was used for selection during transformation (not with the intention for herbicide resistance).

Upload:
Date of authorization: 08/11/2019
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): IND-ØØ41Ø-5
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Simplified approval procedure: Through MAG’s Resolutions 1030 and 1071 there was stated a differentiated treatment for the commercial release of novel GE crops and for GE crops that have been approved in third countries, whose scientific, technical and safety characteristics are well-founded. Paraguayan Ministry of Agriculture’s Resolutions authorize taking into consideration the decision documents from third countries with regard to both human and animal food safety in the cases where these evaluations have been based on Codex Alimentarius, such as the Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants and carried out in countries with time-tested regulatory systems and transparent procedures. Concerning environmental safety, assessments are accepted for GE crops that besides having been authorized for commercial planting in countries with sound regulatory systems, include in the decision documents considerations as follows: that the GE crop under review has been studied under different environmental conditions, behaving in the same way as the conventional non-GE counterpart; that it will be managed in an agronomic manner similar to any GE or conventional hybrid/variety of the species; another aspect is that Paraguay is not center of origin of that crop, and finally two relevant characteristics are that there are no related weeds in Paraguay with which the GE crop could cross-breed and that the main target pests and the main non-target arthropod species present in Paraguay have been taken into account in the GE risk assessment carried out in those countries. The Commercial Release Opinion of the National Commission for Agricultural and Forestry Biosafety (CONBIO), in its substantial part states: "...Recommends technically: 1) The commercial release of event IND-ØØ41Ø-5 2) In case of detection of an unexpected effect, the company is obliged to inform CONBIO".
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Paraguay’s Path Toward the Simplification of Procedures in the Approval of GE Crops
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería
Contact person name:
Santiago Bertoni
Website:
Physical full address:
Yegros 437 entre 25 de mayo y Cerro Cora
Phone number:
+595 981 256262
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The agricultural sector is one of the economic pillars of Paraguay in its contribution to the GDP, with the main crops being soybean, cassava, maize, wheat, sugar cane, and cotton. It should also be noted that Paraguay is the world’s fourth exporter of soybean. In 2020, the area planted with crops was 4.67 million hectares and consisted of soybean (3.56 million hectares), maize (1.08 million hectares), and cotton (18,000 hectares). Agricultural biotechnology was first regulated in Paraguay in 1997. In 2012, the system was adjusted through the creation of the National Agricultural and Forestry Biosafety Commission (CONBIO), “with the mission to manage, analyze, and issue recommendations on all matters related to the introduction, confined field trials, pre-commercial and commercial release, and other intended uses of GE crops” Almost 94% of the soybean, 36% of the maize, and 56% of the cotton planted in the country are GE.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

When a stacked event is approved, all possible combinations are approved. Previously evaluated single events are not reevaluated in stacks.

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

In 2012, the system was adjusted through the creation of the National Agricultural and Forestry Biosafety Commission (CONBIO), “with the mission to manage, analyze, and issue recommendations on all matters related to the introduction, confined field trials, pre-commercial and commercial release, and other intended uses of GE crops”. Additional information https://conbio.mag.gov.py/

United States of America
Name of product applicant: Verdeca, LLC
Summary of application:

Soybean
Submission Date: May 17, 2016
Intended Use: For use in human and animal food
Trait 1 Added Protein or DNA: HaHB4 protein
Source: Helianthus annuus
Intended Effect: Augments plant's response to stresses that occur during growth
Event Designation: HB4

Upload:
Date of authorization: 02/08/2017
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please consult the FDA website links below.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: FDA's webpage regarding this variety
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food and Drug Administration
Contact person name:
Jason Dietz
Website:
Physical full address:
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park MD 20740
Phone number:
240-402-2282
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The United States is currently in the process of populating this database. The Food and Drug Administration regulates food and feed (food for humans and animals) from genetically engineered crops in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA regulates pesticides, including those that are plant incorporated protectants genetically engineered into food crops, to make sure that pesticide residues are safe for human and animal consumption and do not pose unreasonable risks of harm to human health or the environment. FDA In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its "Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties" (the 1992 policy). The 1992 policy clarified the agency's interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human and animal foods derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods. The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using genetic engineering (also known as recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology). In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about foods from genetically engineered plants under development and developers have routinely done so. In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize food from a genetically engineered plant meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the genetically engineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food. FDA evaluates the submission and if FDA has questions about the summary provided, it requests clarification from the developer. At the conclusion of the consultation FDA responds to the developer by letter. The approach to the safety assessment of genetically engineered food recommended by FDA during consultations, including data and information evaluated, is consistent with that described in the Codex Alimentarius Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants. EPA The safe use of pesticidal substances is regulated by EPA. Food from a genetically engineered plant that is the subject of a consultation with FDA may contain an introduced pesticidal substance, also known as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP), that is subject to food (food for humans and animals) safety and environmental review by EPA. PIPs are pesticidal substances produced by plants and the genetic material necessary for the plant to produce the substance. Both the PIP protein and its genetic material are regulated by EPA. When assessing the potential risks of PIPs, EPA requires studies examining numerous factors, such as risks to human health, non-target organisms and the environment, potential for gene flow, and insect resistance management plans, if needed. In regulating PIPs, decisions are based on scientific standards and input from academia, industry, other Federal agencies, and the public. Before the first PIP product was registered in 1995, EPA required that PIP products be thoroughly tested against human safety standards before they were used on human food and livestock feed crops. EPA scientists assessed a wide variety of potential effects associated with the use of PIPs, including toxicity, and allergenicity. These potential effects were evaluated in light of the public's potential exposures to these pesticides, taking into account all potential combined sources of the exposure (food, drinking water, etc.) to determine the likelihood that a person exposed at these levels would be predisposed to a health risk. Based on its reviews of the scientific studies and often peer reviews by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Scientific Advisory Panel, EPA determined that these genetically engineered PIP products, when used in accordance with approved label directions and use restrictions, would not pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment during their time-limited registration.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

Stacked events that are each plant incorporated protectants, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, must be registered by the Envriornmental Protection Agency before they can be commercialized.  Food/feed safety asssessment of single events are generally sufficient to ensure the safety of food/feed from stacked events.   

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food and Drug Administration ([email protected]); Environmental Protection Agency