A comparative evaluation of the regulation of GM crops or products containing dsRNA and suggested improvements to risk assessments

Jack Heinemann, Sarah Agapito-Tenfen, Judith Carman

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    51 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Changing the nature, kind and quantity of particular regulatory-RNA molecules through genetic engineering can create biosafety risks. While some genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are intended to produce new regulatory-RNA molecules, these may also arise in other GMOs not intended to express them. To characterise, assess and then mitigate the potential adverse effects arising from changes to RNA requires changing current approaches to food or environmental risk assessments of GMOs. We document risk assessment advice offered to government regulators in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil during official risk evaluations of GM plants for use as human food or for release into the environment (whether for field trials or commercial release), how the regulator considered those risks, and what that experience teaches us about the GMO risk assessment framework. We also suggest improvements to the process.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)43-55
    Number of pages13
    JournalEnvironment International
    Volume55
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2013

    Keywords

    • Biosafety
    • DsRNA
    • Gene silencing
    • Genetically modified organisms
    • RNAi

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