Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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FSA News item, 9 August 2021
The study explored several aspects of food safety regulation, including definitions, underlying legislation, authorisation processes and production standards.
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FSA Report: Comparing international approaches to food safety regulation of GM and Novel Foods A copy of the detailed report (215 pages) can be found on the FSA web pages (click on image). |
The FSA has published research which aims to capture different regulatory approaches and processes into GM and novel foods.
As the FSA continues to build its science and evidence base, following the UK’s departure from the EU, this report - which got underway in summer 2020 – will also help set out what systems operate around the world to regulate the international trade of these products.
Novel foods are defined as foods not consumed to a significant degree by humans in the EU before 15 May 1997. They are required to be authorised by the FSA before they can safely be placed on the market. Similarly, pre-market authorisation is also required for products under Genetic Modification Regulations, if separate to Novel Food Regulations.
FSA Chief Scientific Adviser Prof Robin May said:
“As a responsible and independent government regulator, with consumer interests at heart, it is vital that we continue to carry out research into all elements of the food system – and we are open and transparent in doing so.
“We are committed to retaining the highest possible food standards. Any possible changes to regulatory processes, whether relating to GMOs, novel foods or anything else, would be a decision for ministers but we provide advice based on the very latest science and evidence available, ensuring that our absolute priority remains protection of public health.”
Meanwhile, the FSA awaits the publication of Defra’s consultation into the regulation of genetic technologies as a whole, due later this summer.
The following additional details are provided on an FSA research page
RESEARCH PROJECT
The study explored several aspects of food safety regulation, including definitions, underlying legislation, authorisation processes and production standards.
Background
The global area of genetically modified (GM) crop production has considerably increased over the past two decades, with GM crops now cultivated in about 28 countries, accounting for over 10% of the world’s arable land.
A 'novel food' is any food or substance that has not been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the EU before 15 May 1997. Since then, there has been over 90 novel foods authorisations approved for use by the EU.
Novel foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are subject to a large variation in regulatory approaches around the world, for which many countries have specifically developed their own regulatory frameworks to control the placement of such products on their markets.
Research approach
A qualitative assessment was carried out on how the regulation of novel foods and GMOs in selected non-EU countries differs from those current requirements in the United Kingdom. Countries of interest for novel foods that were selected for review included Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States; to focus on their approach to 'novelty' determination, authorisation processes, differences in terminology, safety standards, and evidence-based requirements. In the regulatory approaches for GMOs, the countries selected were Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, as best representing key differences.
Systems were also identified which regulate the international trade of such commodities, by considering relevant treaties that operate at a global level., These systems included the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), and the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). Elements of free trade agreements between the signatories of two or more jurisdictions were also considered in this report.
