Towards a new regulatory framework for GM crops in the European Union - Scientific, ethical, social and legal issues and the challenges ahead

Aware of the significant potential of nascent biotechnologies, the European Economic Community (the predecessor to the European Union) was one of the first regions in the world to develop a regulatory framework for them. Back in the 1980s, the objective of Community member countries was to strengthen the standards of consensus and collaboration, and of environmental and health safety, as well as to promote an industrial sector of enormous potential. In spite of all effort, towards the end of the 1990s it was a widely accepted fact that a number of political and economic factors were blocking the development of biotechnology in Europe. From that crisis emerged what in some aspects is probably the most comprehensive and rigorous body of regulations for biotechnology in the world today. However, the very high technical level of those regulations did not prevent a new crisis which EU institutions aim to solve with a new regulatory framework. Thus, since March 2015, the way towards the third regulatory framework for Biotechnology in the EU has been open. Will this third regulatory framework finally offer sufficient guarantees to allow a healthy and sustainable development of biotechnology in the EU? What do we need to do so that ‘third time is lucky’? In this work, a group of European and non-European experts, from different disciplines and approaches, discuss the past and the present, as well as the various possible futures, of Genetically Modified Crops in the EU.

Keywords: biotechnology, regulatory framework, European Union, genetically modified crops

See more at: http://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/abs/10.3920/978-90-8686-845-2

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320586022_Towards_a_new_regulatory_framework_for_GM_crops_in_the_European_Union_-_Scientific_ethical_social_and_legal_issues_and_the_challenges_ahead

Table of contents

● Front Matter
pp. 1–15
● Three decades later, what has become of the EU Regulation of GMOs?
L. Escajedo San-Epifanio
pp. 17–22
● 1. Decision-making on genetically modified crops in the EU: finding the way out or going even deeper into the maze?
A. López-Basaguren
pp. 23–45
● 2. Directive (EU) 2015/412 in the EU Acquis: its scope and significance
L. González Vaqué
pp. 47–59
● 3. Restrictions on GM crops in the European Union: between legislative unity and the diversity of national positions
F.J. Romero-Caro
pp. 61–75
● 4. Labelling requirements of GM food as compared to those of other foods
A. Arroyo Aparicio
pp. 77–85
● 5. A scientific view of the current status of genetically modified crops, foods and feed in the European Union
M. De Renobales
pp. 87–110
● 6. Franken-food or techno-fix? – Ethical issues of GMOs in Europe
M. Kaiser
pp. 111–122
● 7. Genome editing: does it move the goalposts on the GM playing field?
D.M. Bruce
pp. 123–129
● 8. Genetically modified crops in India: some observations
G. Pakky Reddy
pp. 131–140
● 9. GMO risk assessment in the EU: interplay between science, policy and politics
J.M. Casacuberta, F. Nogué, P. du Jardin
pp. 141–154
● 10. Substituting a fictional ‘science’ for public accountability: legitimacy problems of the EU’s regulatory framework for GM products
L. Levidow
pp. 155–166
● 11. EFSA’s role as an independent authority: a comparative perspective
M. Salvador Martínez
pp. 167–182
● 12. Towards a new regulatory framework for GMOs in the EU: will it be third time lucky?
L. Escajedo San-Epifanio
pp. 183–210

15 years of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in Brazil: Risks, labeling and public opinion

Biancca Scarpeline de Castro

• Localización: Revista agroalimentaria, ISSN-e 1316-0354, Vol. 22, Nº. 42, 2016, págs. 103-117
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• Idioma: inglés
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• Títulos paralelos:
  • 15 ans d’organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) au Brésil : : Des risques, l’étiquetage et l’opinion publique
  • 15 años de organismos genéticamente modificados (OGM) en Brasil: : riesgos, etiquetado y opinión pública
  • 15 anos de organismos geneticamente modificados (OGM) no Brasil: : riscos, rotulagem e opinião pública
• • Texto completo (pdf): https://app.box.com/s/yrgk5idela94eum6vomkeh79zedvgxly 
• Resumen
  • Español
    El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar la introducción y difusión de los organismos genéticamente modificados en Brasil, con énfasis en los argumentos sobre el etiquetado y la opinión pública sobre el tema. Los hallazgos se basan en investigaciones a largo plazo sobre el tema y en el análisis de las entrevistas realizadas con las partes interesadas y el público en general. A partir del estudio se revela que los conflictos relacionados con los OGM en Brasil fueron muy polarizados y se desarrollaron como conflictos de riesgos. Se muestra así mismo que el etiquetado es considerado por los que se oponen a los transgénicos como una condición esencial para la elección de productos por parte del consumidor, mientras que las empresas e instituciones en favor de los productos transgénicos tienen una opinión diferente sobre el tema. Los resultados de una encuesta con más de 800 consumidores brasileros indicaron que estos están más preocupados por las cuestiones relacionadas con la contaminación (biológica y química) y las características nutricionales de los alimentos que con la biotecnología vegetal.
  • Português
    O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a introdução e difusão de organismos geneticamente modificados no Brasil, enfatizando as contendas sobre rotulagem e a opinião pública sobre o assunto. As conclusões são baseadas em pesquisas de longo prazo sobre o tema e na análise de entrevistas com as partes interessadas e o público em geral. Demonstra-se que os litígios relacionados aos OGM no Brasil eram muito polarizada e se desdobraram como conflitos de riscos. Mostra-se que a rotulagem é considerada por aqueles que se opõem aos OGM como uma condição essencial para a escolha do consumidor, enquanto as empresas e instituições favoráveis a esses produtos têm uma opinião diferente sobre o assunto. Os resultados de uma pesquisa com mais de 800 consumidores brasileiros indicaram que eles estão mais preocupados com as questões relacionadas à contaminação (química e biológica) dos alimentos e às suas características nutricionais do que com o fato de serem produzidos utilizando a biotecnologia.
  • English
    The objective of this paper is to present the introduction and diffusion of genetically modified organisms in Brazil, emphasizing the contentions about labeling and the public opinion about the issue. The findings are based on long-term research on the topic, as well as in analysis of interviews with stakeholders and the general public. It is disclose that disputes related to GMOs in Brazil were very polarized and unfolded as conflicts of risks. It is also shown that labeling is considered by those opposed to GMOs as an essential condition for the consumer´s choice of products, while companies and institutions in favor of GM products have a different opinion on the issue. The results of a survey with over than 800 Brazilian consumers indicated that they are more concerned with issues related to contamination (biological and chemical) and nutritional characteristics of foods than plant biotechnology.
  • Français
    L’objectif de cet article est de présenter l’introduction et la diffusion des organismes génétiquement modifiés au Brésil, en mettant l’accent sur les allégations relatives à l’étiquetage et l’opinion publique sur la question. Les résultats sont basés sur la recherche à long terme sur le sujet et à l’analyse des entrevues avec les intervenants et le grand public. Il est démontré que les différends liés aux OGM au Brésil étaient très polarisée et s’est déroulé comme les conflits de risques. Il est montré que l’étiquetage est considéré par ceux qui s’opposent aux OGM comme une condition essentielle pour le choix du consommateur de produits, tandis que les entreprises et les institutions en faveur des produits génétiquement modifiés ont une opinion différente sur la question. Les résultats d’un sondage avec plus de 800 consommateurs brésiliens ont indiqué qu’ils sont plus préoccupés par les questions liées à la contamination des caractéristiques (chimiques et biologiques) et nutritionnelles des aliments que la biotechnologie végétale.