CB1.6 - Methods for analysis of genetically modified (GM) food and feed
Purpose
- To underpin GC capability and maintain credibility in the referee analysis of food and feed for GM material.
- To improve the validity and efficiency of GM referee analysis, and assess low-cost alternatives to DNA methods.
Background
The recent lifting of the de facto moratorium on the approval of GM foods in Europe means that a larger range of genetic modification (‘transformation’) events will now need to be detected to meet legislative requirements.
The Government Chemist (GC) has received one formal sample for GM testing in the recent past. The high public and media profile of GM products can be expected to lead to increased enforcement activity.
In order to sustain a recognised capability and credibility in GM analysis, and to ensure that the regulatory limits can be met with confidence and defended in a Court of Law, the GC maintains a proactive involvement in appropriate harmonisation and standardisation activities.
Outputs
The project has four main activities:
- participation in activities to improve the performance characteristics of methods used for GM quantification, including limit of detection (LOD);
- the assessment of low cost GM methods for referee analysis;
- the publication of best practice guidelines on the handling and interpretation of data from GM detection methods;
- The validation of referee methods to ensure that they continue to be fit for purpose.