26/November/20

 

Testbiotech is extremely critical of a recent European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) opinion on the risks associated with plants derived from new genetic engineering (New GE). It considers the EFSA report on CRISPR and other methods of gene editing is both inadequate and misleading on the protection of health and the environment. In its opinion published yesterday, EFSA claims that applications of gene scissors, such as CRISPR/Cas, in plants do not pose any specific risks as long as no additional genes are inserted. However, the EFSA opinion does not deal with the risks associated with the complex patterns of genetic change that are typical for most plants derived from New GE. Testbiotech

 

 

Researchers at North Carolina State University are calling for a coalition of biotech industry, government and non-government organizations, trade organizations, and academic experts to work together to provide basic information about gene-edited crops to lift the veil on how plants or plant products are modified and provide greater transparency on the presence and use of gene editing in food supplies. The warn that the lack of public information on gene-edited crops could decrease public trust. GMWatch