What are Genetically Modified Organisms?

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism, excepting human beings, the genetic material of which has been modified in a way that it is not naturally produced by mating or natural re-combination.                          

A genetically modified organism is obtained by techniques that permit the inclusion of genetic material deriving from a different species in an organism, which could not be obtained naturally (for example, a bacterial gene of a plant). In addition, genetic modification techniques permit the inclusion of a particular characteristic in a guided manner in a particular species, by contrast to the classical genetic improvement techniques, which are based on the generation of a large genetic variability from which to select the organism containing the desired characteristic, often together with other characteristics that were not the object of the improvement.                   

What are genetically modified foods?

Genetically modified foods are foods that contain or consist of GMOs or have been produced from GMOs.

The legal concept of “Genetically Modified Food” is defined in article 2 of Regulation 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and the Council on genetically modified foods and feeds.

Are products containing GMO safe?

All foods whose placing on the market commences in the European Union are subject to guarantees that their consumption is safe. Genetically modified foods are also subject to a food safety evaluation prior to being placed on the market.

How do I know whether the product I am going to buy contains GMO?

European legislation requires all foods containing or consisting of GMO to be labelled so that consumers can make informed choices.

The products offered to the end consumer must indicate that “This product contains genetically modified organisms” or “This product contains [name of the organism/s] modified genetically”.

What is the traceability of a GMO?

European legislation requires that in all phases of the production process and placing on the market of a food it can be ascertained whether of not it contains GMO so that consumers can make informed choices.  

For this purpose, in the first phases of the placing on the market of a product containing or consisting of a GMO, operators are bound to inform the operator receiving the product in writing of the fact that said product contains or consists of GMO and the exclusive identifier of said GMO. This identifier is an alpha-numerical code that unequivocally identifies the GMO.

Further information:

- Risk evaluation

- Legislation

- Transgenics and food safety

- How to label transgenics

Press releases:

- The president of the Chamber of Agriculture of Pontevedra analysed transgenics in feed with the Spanish Food Safety Agency.  

- All transgenic foods and feeds will have to indicate such a condition in their labelling as from Sunday  

- The Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) qualifies the requirement to label transgenic foods as very positive 

Links:

- The European Commission. Genetically Modified Organisms

- EFSA. Genetically Modified Organisms