Brussels, 27/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - An opinion is being prepared by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on genotoxicity in substances used in food or animal feed. An online public consultation will be carried out until 31 May next.
This draft opinion will support the identification of substances that cause harm to the genetic material (DNA) of cells and which may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heritable diseases. It will also contribute to risk assessment of substances used in the food and feed chain and contribute to further harmonisation of genotoxicity testing across EFSA's Scientific Panels.
In the opinion, EFSA's experts have reviewed the latest scientific knowledge on genotoxicity testing at European and international level. All stakeholders and interested parties are invited to provide their comments. The results will be taken into account when drafting the final opinion, explains EFSA. http://www.efsa.europa.eu (A.N./trans.fl)