By Jamie Durrani2021-05-06T08:30:00+01:00
A new report suggests that EU legislation on organisms produced by genome editing is ‘not fit for purpose’. The review was carried out by the European commission amid growing concerns that current policies are lagging behind the latest scientific developments.
In 2018, the European court of justice decreed that all genome-edited organisms should be treated the same way under law. But the ruling was based on technical definitions that date from 2001, and many experts point out that it fails to distinguish between organisms that have undergone minor genetic alterations akin to those that would be produced through natural breeding programmes, and transgenic organisms whose genomes include DNA introduced from other species.
6 May
Join Keller and Heckman Partner Rachida Semail and Associate Ales Bartl, for a complimentary webinar, EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and Its Impact on Packaging, on Wednesday, May 26 at 4:00 p.m. CET.
In the context of the circular economy initiatives, the ongoing re-evaluation of the food-contact legislation and the clear commitment of the European Commission to take into consideration the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) in its future legislative initiatives on food-contact materials (FCMs), this webinar will provide an outline the developments of the main initiatives under the CSS that may have significant implications on the future regulatory framework for FCMs, such as:
Katy Jones05:00, May 05 2021
Protesters demonstrate against controversial weedkiller glyphosate in Brussels as the EU pesticides committee meets to decide on whether to extend its licence. 2019 file video.
It has been the subject of nationwide protests, billion-dollar lawsuits in the United States, and recently Japan turned away New Zealand honey because of it. What is glyphosate, and should we be worried about its use in New Zealand? Glyphosate is the world’s most commonly used herbicide. In New Zealand, it is used to kill weeds in places ranging from orchards, crops and vineyards, to private gardens, roadsides and public parks. The herbicide is contained in hundreds of products globally, and used in about 90 products in this country, with Roundup arguably the most recognised brand.
More insects are on their way to dinner plates in Europe under an agreement between EU countries to label them "innovative food" that is safe to eat, the European Commission said Tuesday. The commission said there are currently 11 other applications for insects to become "novel food" in the EU and they will be considered by the European Food Safety Authority.
May 4, 2021 5:38 pm
The European Commission has given a favourable opinion on a draft legal act authorising the placing of dried yellow mealworm on the market as a novel food.
Following a scientific evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), this is the very first authorisation to place insects as novel foods on the market in the EU.
The term yellow mealworm refers to the larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor.
This novel food is intended to be used as a whole, dried insect in the form of snacks or as a food ingredient, in a number of food products.