Updated guidance document of the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)for the risk assessment of genetically modified plants and derived food and feed

EFSA’s GMO Panel regularly reviews its guidance to take account of scientific developments and of experience gained through the risk assessment process. When doing so the Panel, in line with EFSA’s policy on openness and transparency, and in order to allow the scientific community and stakeholders to comment on its work, consults the public on key issues.

In 2008 the Panel updated its guidance document, originally adopted in 2004, in the light of several years of experience in the risk assessment of GMO applications and of the outcome of the Panels’ self-tasking activities. Currently the updated guidance document forms the basis for the establishment of legal EC Guidelines by the Commission and the Member States. In the frame of enhancing that process, the outcome of this consultation will be directly forwarded to the Commission and the Member States. EFSA will publish an evaluation report on the comments received and be consulted prior to the adoption of the legal framework.

Interested parties are invited submit written comments by 21 September 2008.

Please exclusively use the electronic template provided with the documents to submit comments and refer to the line numbering. Comments submitted by email or via surface mail cannot be taken into account.

Note: No consultation is launched for the sections of the guidance concerning environmental risk assessment. Additional consultation on these sections is foreseen after their update on issues such as assessing potential long-term environmental effects of GMO cultivation, following a mandate from the Commission’s DG Environment and the outcome of activities that EFSA has initiated on assessing potential risks to non-target organisms by traits such as insect-resistance in GM plants.