May 6, 2009
The
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
has asked its GMO and BIOHAZ Panels to
further consider the issue of antibiotic
resistance marker genes (ARMG)[1] in GM
plants following the adoption of their joint
scientific opinion.
Two members of the BIOHAZ Panel expressed
minority opinions concerning the possibility
of adverse effects of antibiotic resistance
marker genes on human health and the
environment. EFSA has asked the Panels to
consider whether the minority opinions
require further clarification of the current
joint scientific opinion, and, if further
scientific work is needed, what the nature
of this work might be.
The Panels will discuss these questions by
the end of May after which EFSA will provide
an update on this work.
The European Commission asked EFSA in 2008
to prepare a consolidated scientific opinion
on the use of antibiotic marker genes in GM
plants intended or already authorised to be
placed on the market. EFSA was also asked to
indicate the possible consequences of this
consolidated opinion on the previous EFSA
assessments on individual GMOs containing
antibiotic resistance marker genes.
[1] Marker genes encoding resistance to
specific antibiotics may be used in genetic
modification to help identify GM cells among
the untransformed cells.