Brussels, 03/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - A new stage has been reached in the reform by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to tighten the rules on environmental risk assessments (ERA) for genetically modified plants legally authorised in the EU. On Tuesday 2 August, EFSA published an updated guideline document on environmental monitoring further to the marketing of genetically modified plants (scientific process required by EU legislation and known as PMEM: post-market environmental monitoring). This document increases the requirements on candidates applying for a marketing authorisation for genetically modified plants and makes recommendations for the risk managers to improve the collection and communication of PMEM data within the EU.
For “general monitoring”, which has to be carried out for each GM plant authorised in the EU, in order to detect unexpected and undesirable effects and to pay the necessary attention to preserving flora and fauna, soil quality and the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, the document stipulates the tools to be used. Several of these tools come with complete opinions on the design and analysis of the questionnaires for farmers, and recommendations on the use of existing biodiversity monitoring networks in the Member States which are relevant for the monitoring of GM plants. In the Member States, EFSA recommends that general monitoring be seen as a component of the overall monitoring of environmental protection within the EU and has, to this end, proposed that notification centres be set up nationally to improve the integration and harmonisation of the collection of PMEM data.
For “specific monitoring”, which has to be carried out on a case-by-case basis when the initial assessment of the environmental risks is made, the document lists the requirements for the statistical design of the specific monitoring plans (on a case-by-case basis) and contains examples of objectives and approaches which can be used to monitor the risks and/or uncertainties identified by EFSA.
It is worth noting that under EU legislation, applications for authorisation to grow GM crops must include a detailed PMEM plan, stipulating how the GM plant will be monitored to detect and trace any undesirable effect on human health and the environment. Every year, EFSA evaluates the PMEM results and makes recommendations to the Commission to improve the PMEM plans and make conclusions on the continued security of GM crops. In its update of its guideline document of October 2006, EFSA has responded to a request made of it by the Commission in October of last year. This updating exercise takes on board the contributions received by EFSA from all interested parties as part of a public consultation. (A.N./transl.fl)