Guidelines for the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically engineered plants
The ICMR guidelines to establish the safety assessment procedures for foods derived from GE plants taking into consideration the international Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant- DNA Plants (CAC 2003b).
2 CONCEPT OF SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Modern biotechnology, involving the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies, also known as genetic engineering, has emerged as a powerful tool with many potential applications in healthcare and agriculture. New plant varieties developed using rDNA techniques, commonly referred to as genetically engineered (GE), genetically modified (GM) or transgenic plants, have been and are being developed with the aim of: enhancing productivity; decreasing dependence on the use of agricultural chemicals; modifying the
inherent properties of crops; and improving the nutritional value of foods and livestock feeds. To address the human health safety of foods derived from GE plants, there is a need to adopt a systematic and structured approach to their risk analysis. Risk analysis is a science based process comprised of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication and is an analytical tool to systematically evaluate safety concerns addressing human health safety of GM foods within a framework for decision making. It also provides further basis for reviewing the safety evaluation parameters as and when further information becomes available.