Evaluation of the Risks Posed in Europe by Unintended Mixing of Food Crops Developed for Food Use and Food Crops Developed for Non-Food Uses


ILSI Europe Report Series. 2011:1-28

Currently large volumes of oilseed rape, palm and soya oil are being used for biodiesel production globally. Similarly, maize, cereal and sugar crops are being widely used for bio-ethanol production. The same cultivars are typically used for food, feed or fuel applications.

The review includes consideration of pathways of unintended commingling, and the risks (assuming there is an identified hazard) this may present to neighbouring or subsequent food crops following cultivation of FCNFU, plus potential food chain hazards arising from various unintended commingling risks, including potential mixture with food crops or crop by-products during storage, transport and processing.

This review does not consider risks to the environment, gene flow, worker exposure or risks associated with unintended consumption of the crop in the field by animals or humans. In the case of traits introduced by GM, such risks are addressed through legislation granting approval to cultivate GM crops.

This work complements work by EFSA to assess risks associated with the development of genetically modified plants for non-food uses, and the European Medical Agency (EMA) in developing procedures to deal with the use of higher plants to produce active substances for pharmaceutical use.

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