The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) just recently published another opinion on the risks associated with organisms obtained from new genetic engineering (or new genomic techniques, NGTs). Once again, it states that NGT plants would not present any ‘new’ risks. Testbiotech today published a report on this issue, warning that EFSA is systematically ignoring important studies and scientific findings.
The environmental risks of NGT plants have been repeatedly described in scientific literature. These include negative effects on pollinators and food webs, invasiveness, weakening of natural plant populations, yield depression, insect toxicity and effects on soil organisms. The new Testbiotech report lists examples of risks and specific genetic changes of NGT plants, that differ significantly from those found in conventional breeding.
In their opinions, EFSA ‘overlooked’ nearly all of the relevant studies. The gaps in the EFSA opinions are by no means arbitrary, but result from a basic misconception: unlike several national authorities and institutions, EFSA has not published a systematic analysis of the differences between NGTs and conventional breeding. Neither did EFSA explore the convergence of artificial intelligence and NGTs.
In addition, EFSA only feels obliged to look for so-called ‘new’ risks which, according to their opinions, they cannot identify. EFSA is ‘overlooking’ the fact that several studies have already described specific risks associated with NGT plants. Such risks need to be assessed before any potential releases or approvals are granted, regardless of whether the risks are considered ‘new’.
The new report of Testbiotech shows that, following the logic of EFSA, it would be difficult to even distinguish the risks of a genetically engineered ‘dire wolf’ from those of a normal wolf. Similar problems arise from EFSA’s approach in identifying risks of NGT plants that for example are manipulated in their flowering.
The European Commission frequently references the EFSA opinions as justification for its planned far-reaching deregulation of NGT plants. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of the NGT plants currently under development will be allowed to be released and marketed in the EU without any environmental risk assessment.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
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