In its risk assessments of GMOs, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) systematically ignores specific risks, according to a new analysis of the EFSA's work published by the TestBiotech institute on Thursday 21 January. On the basis of new evidence of deficiencies, TestBiotech asks the Commission to take action to remedy them.
TestBiotech criticises the EFSA for not systematically asking the industry for sufficiently reliable data. This concerns, for example, field trials with genetically modified herbicide-resistant plants that are sprayed with much lower herbicide application rates than in current agricultural practices.
For the evaluation of Bt insecticidal toxins produced in plants, the EFSA accepts experiments with toxins produced by bacteria, whereas it is known that toxins produced by plants should be considered much more toxic, the report points out.
While most approved GM plants carry a combination of (several) Bt toxins and (several) herbicide resistances, the EFSA does not ask for empirical data on the mixed toxicity or immunogenicity of the compounds present in the crop.
For the potential propagation of genetically modified plants, the EFSA makes assumptions that are outdated, according to the study.
TestBiotech's analysis is also based on the results of the pan-European research programme RAGES (Risk assessment of genetically engineered organisms in the EU and Switzerland) (see EUROPE 12360/16).
To read the study: https://bit.ly/391ze52 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)