GMO Genetically Modified Organisms
Genetically modified plants are also referred to as transgenic plants. This means that certain genes from other organisms are introduced into the genome, with the aim of improving a resistance against harmful insects or to facilitate the control of weeds by introducing herbicide resistant / tolerant plantgenomes.
Most new registrations are "stacked events", means plants with multiple resistances (either by conventional cross-breeding of several GMO events or by transfusion with several external genes). Thus new plants, producing e.g. both herbicide and insecticide-resistant and being dry-tolerant, are created.
In many cases, a cost-effective screening for the most common control and marker genes (e.g. 35S CaMV promoter, NOS terminator) is sufficient.
In the case of a positive test result, there is the subsequent possibility of a GMO identification and quantification. Usually the costs of subsequent analysis are lower than the initial analysis since the DNA extraction is carried out already.
A wide range of analysis parameters is available for identification and quantification.
Labeling requirement:
GMO admixtures up to 0.9 percent per ingredient are permitted without being labeled if they
- are proven to be accidental and technically unavoidable admixtures;
- the GMO in question was authorized in the EU and assessed as safe.
- for GMOs not authorized in the EU the "zero tolerance policy" applies: admixtures are not permitted in principle and the product can not be sold within the EU.