other internet resources for gmos, biosafety, sustainability and risk analysis

Ensuring the sustainability of GMOs is a global effort that depends on the contributions of many biosafety and biotechnology researchers, technology developers and regulators. Several national and international institutions have therefore developed valuable technical resources that can inform and assist local stakeholders. In addition to the topic specific resources listed elsewhere on this website, we also list the most useful generally applicable internet resources for GMO related research and development here in a convenient reference list to improve accessibility.

GMOs

GMO DETECTION AND ANALYSIS

1. The European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL) has many online resources, including a methods database, on the development and standardisation of methods for the sampling, detection, identification and quantification of GMOs in a wide variety of products.

OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL GM CROP STATISTICS

1. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agric-Biotech Applications’ (ISAAA’s) annual briefs on the global status of commercialised biotech/GM crops.

DATABASES OF ALL GMO CROPS (EXACT LINES) THAT HAVE REGULATORY APPROVED AROUND THE WORLD

1. The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment’s (CERA’s) global database for regulatory approved GM crops
2. The ISAAA’s GM approval database

Biosafety & sustainability

GLOBAL GMO/BIOTECH/BIOSAFETY GOVERNANCE

1. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety's (CPB’s) Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH).
2. Genetically modified organisms, consumers, food safety and the environment by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
3. The African Biosafety Network of Expertise’s (ABNE’s) biosafety profile of African countries.
4. GMO Compass gives an overview of GMO regulation and application within the European Union.

A TAILORED, SEARCHABLE BIOSAFETY LITERATURE DATABASES

1. The Bibliosafety database of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND GUIDANCE ON THE FOOD AND FEED SAFETY ASSESSMENTS OF GM FOODS (ALSO SEE RISK ANALYSIS LINKS BELOW)

1. Codex Alimentarius and specifically its guidance on “Foods derived from modern biotechnology”.
2. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) BioTrack guidance documents.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND GUIDANCE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY ASSESSMENTS OF GM CROPS (ALSO SEE RISK ANALYSIS LINKS BELOW)

1. The CPB’s Guidance on Risk Assessment of Living Modified Organisms (not yet officially accepted).
2. The BCH also offers various other resources to assist parties in complying with their obligations under the Protocol.

 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BIOSAFETY ORGANISATIONS AND PROJECTS

1. The International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR).
2. The ICGEB’s biosafety unit.
3. The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE).
4. Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS).
5. The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement’s (SAASTA’s) Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) program.
6. Assuring the agricultural and food safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Southern Africa (GMASSURE).

Risk analysis

RISK ANALYSIS BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s (OGTR’s) “Assessing risks from genetically modified organisms: A structured approach that supports evidence-based decisions”.
2. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA’s) biotech governance “Information for the general public”.

GMO RISK ANALYSIS FRAMEWORKS AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

1. The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) GMO applications: regulations and guidance.
2. CERA has developed a range of environmental risk assessment resources, covering many topics from broad frameworks to speciality topics.
3. The OGTR’s risk analysis framework.
4. The CFIA lists its risk analysis frameworks and guidance documents for plants with novel traits (PNTs) based on the tiered, possible activities with the PNT.