EFSA guidance on the submission of applications for authorisation of genetically modified plants under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003

This document provides guidance to applicants for submitting an application for authorisation of genetically modified (GM) plants for food and feed uses, import and processing, and/or cultivation in the European Union under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. The EFSA submission guidance describes the community procedures in the European Union for handling GM plant applications, and provides instructions to applicants on how to prepare and present data in an application. It is supplemented with seven appendices providing templates of data presentation to be followed by applicants, including a completeness checklist. The earlier versions are now updated to account for requirements outlined in Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013. Instructions for submission described in this EFSA guidance are applicable to all GM plant applications submitted under Articles 5, 11, 17 and 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003

Statement on a conceptual framework for the risk assessment of certain food additives re-evaluated under Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010

The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific statement presenting a conceptual framework for the risk assessment of certain food additives re-evaluated under Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010. This framework will be used in the evaluation made by the Panel, but the expert judgement of the scientific background, on a case-by-case basis, remains essential to reach a final conclusion. The outcome of the re-evaluation of food additives taking into account all available information is presented in the document, as well as the exposure assessment scenarios to be carried out by the Panel considering the use levels set in the legislation and the availability of adequate usage or analytical data

Are all GMOs the same? Consumer acceptance of cisgenic rice in India

Citation: Shew, A. M., Nalley, L. L., Danforth, D. M., Dixon, B. L., Nayga, R. M., Delwaide, A. C., & Valent, B. (2016). Are all GMOs the same? Consumer acceptance of cisgenic rice in India. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 14(1), 4-7. doi:10.1111/pbi.12442India has more than 215 million food-insecure people, many of whom are farmers. Genetically modified (GM) crops have the potential to alleviate this problem by increasing food supplies and strengthening farmer livelihoods. For this to occur, two factors are critical: (i) a change in the regulatory status of GM crops, and (ii) consumer acceptance of GM foods. There are generally two classifications of GM crops based on how they are bred: cisgenically bred, containing only DNA sequences from sexually compatible organisms; and transgenically bred, including DNA sequences from sexually incompatible organisms. Consumers may view cisgenic foods as more natural than those produced via transgenesis, thus influencing consumer acceptance. This premise was the catalyst for our study-would Indian consumers accept cisgenically bred rice and if so, how would they value cisgenics compared to conventionally bred rice, GM-labelled rice and 'no fungicide' rice? In this willingness-to-pay study, respondents did not view cisgenic and GM rice differently. However, participants were willing-to-pay a premium for any aforementioned rice with a 'no fungicide' attribute, which cisgenics and GM could provide. Although not significantly different (P = 0.16), 76% and 73% of respondents stated a willingness-to-consume GM and cisgenic foods, respectively