Socio-economic considerations are included in the regulatory frameworks on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) of many countries. This is a reflection of an increasing interest in and recognition of the necessity to consider a broader range of issues when conducting a GMO risk assessment. At the same time, there are discussions about how socio-economic considerations can be identified and how...

We critically evaluate the isovector Goldberger-Miyazawa-Oehme ~GMO! sum rule for forward pN scattering using the recent precision measurements of pp and pd scattering lengths from pionic atoms. We deduce the charged-pion-nucleon coupling constant, with careful attention to systematic and statistical uncertainties. This determination gives, directly from data, gc ~GMO!/4p514.1160.05~statistical...

The rapid increase in the number of genetically modified (GM) varieties has led to a demand for high-throughput methods to detect genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We describe a new dynamic array-based high throughput method to simultaneously detect 48 targets in 48 samples on a Fludigm system. The test targets included species-specific genes, common screening elements, most of the Chinese...

The increase in new GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has led to specific legislation world-wide to regulate the presence and/or the amount of GMOs in food, food ingredients, feeds and agriculture commodities. Regulatory demands of labelling and traceability of GMOs in the food chain need suitable sampling protocols and analytical methods. At present, two main techniques, the DNA-based poly...

In the European Union, the definition of a GMO is technology-based. This means that a novel organism will be regulated under the GMO regulatory framework only if it has been developed with the use of defined techniques. This approach is now challenged with the emergence of new techniques. In this paper, we describe regulatory and safety issues associated with the use of oligonucleotide-mediated...

Political responses to novel foods and crops can be specific to the new traits of those crops (agronomic versus enhanced nutrients), to the intended uses of those crops (food for people versus feed for animals), and also to the methods used to introduced those traits (conventional breeding versus genetic engineering). This article describes variations in observed political responses to three di...

Strategies and best practices for the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops need to be developed and implemented with the participation of farmers and other stakeholders. According to the principle of 'subsidiarity', decisions should be made by the lowest authority possible. When applying this concept to the case of GM crops, the affected society should determine their use and management in a reg...

1 Regulation 6 of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000, GMO(CU), requires that a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to human health and the environment be carried out before any activity involving genetic modification of micro-organisms is commenced. The assessment must take into account the matters in Part I of Schedule 3 and include the steps in Par...

Genetically modified organisms have been developed by application of advanced techniques of genetic engineering. GM crops offer distinctive advantages like insects, weed, disease and drought resistance, better nutritional value and higher yield. However in a considerable part of the world, non governmental organizations and/or the general public are hesitating or opposing the cultivation and ap...