Food Law News - UK - 1997

29 January 1997: NOVEL FOODS - Food Safety Clearance For Oil From Genetically Modified (GM) Cottonseed


MAFF/ACNFP Press Release, 29 January 1997

Government Gives Food Safety Clearance For Oil From Genetically Modified (GM) Cottonseed

The Government has accepted advice from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) and cleared oil from five lines of genetically modified cottonseed and oil from lines derived from them by conventional breeding methods. The cottonseed has been modified to be tolerant to the broadleaf herbicide bromoxynil. It is a vegetable oil used in margarine, shortenings, and cooking oils.

In its food safety assessment the ACNFP concluded that the composition of the oil from the GM cottonseed did not differ significantly from conventionally bred cottonseed. The ACNFP was also satisfied that none of the gene products from the introduced genes were present in the oil. The clearance is for oil from lines 10109, 10211,10215,10222 and 10224 of BXN cotton, and from lines derived from these by conventional breeding methods.

The Food Advisory Committee (FAC) recommended that there is no need any special labelling in this case, but encouraged the provision of information on a voluntary basis in response to public interest.

Copies of the full ACNFP report on oil from genetically modified (GM) bromoxynil-tolerant cottonseed are available free of charge from the ACNFP Administrative Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Room 239c Ergon House c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.


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