Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 11 • 11th June 2004
New IPPC Risk Analysis Guidelines for Biotech Plants
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On 1 June the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation published new guidelines for assessing the potential risk to plants and plant products posed by living modified organisms (LMOs). These guidelines were adopted in April by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary measure, the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The guidelines were developed to protect the plant and crop ecosystems from potential risks arising from the introduction of LMOs. For example, through the introduction of some LMOs there is a potential risk of introducing a gene that could cause a normal plant to become a weed. The guidelines also cover LMOs that may be harmful to plants, such as insects, fungi and bacteria. The guidelines stress that measures to manage pest risks caused by LMOs should be cost-effective, feasible, not more trade restrictive than necessary and non-discriminatory.
The IPPC is recognised by the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) as the international organisation responsible for standard-setting related to plant health. WTO Members “shall base” their measures related to human and plant health on IPPC standards, guidelines or recommendations. Such measures “shall be deemed to be necessary to protect human, animal or plant life of health, and presumed to be consistent with the relevant provisions” of the SPS Agreement. The other two international standard- setting bodies recognised in the SPS Agreement are the Codex Alimentarius Commission for food safety and the Office International de Epizooties (OIE) for animal health and zoonoses.
“Living modified organisms: new guidelines for risk assessment,” FAO PRESS RELEASE, 1 June 2004.
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