Brussels, 26/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Technically speaking, to what does the 0.1% threshold established for detection of the presence of GMOs in animal feed correspond? The Commission intends to clarify this very shortly so that all 27 member states may harmonise the way this “zero technique” is interpreted to ensure that feed does not contain GMOs. Harmonisation should also facilitate the task and give renewed confidence to third country operators exporting feed to the EU.
A European draft regulation concerning only animal feed is currently the subject of inter-service consultation at the Commission and will be presented, on 15 November, to member state experts meeting within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH).
The text will define what is known as the “zero technique” as well as the method of sampling and the method of detection that may be used. The Joint Research Centre has already set criteria for the adventitious presence of GMOs.
Given that no unauthorised GMO may be lawfully marketed, the regulation will cover only those GMOs for which a detection method has been validated by the Joint Research Centre, and GMOs that have been authorised in the past (on the basis of a method that was valid at the time), but for which the company in question has not requested extension of the authorisation.
“This is not a tolerance threshold. We say that sampling methods are only reproducible and safe above 0.1%. Below 0.1%, we do not know”, a source close to the Commission states.
For human food, everyone may have a different interpretation of what the “zero technique” implies.
Under comitology procedure, the Parliament and Council will have a right of scrutiny on the draft regulation, i.e. three months in which to examine the text. If the Parliament and Council are not opposed to it, the regulation will be adopted within 20 days. (A.N./transl.jl)