Citation
Stephen Fallows, D. (2000), "OECD Papers", British Food Journal, Vol. 102 No. 10. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj.2000.070102jag.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
OECD Papers
OECD Papers
Despite the apparent low-key attention given in the G8 final communiqué, the G8 leaders (and their respective teams) had been provided by substantial library of materials on the linked matters of biotechnology and food safety. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provided a series of substantial documents (the text of each is available via the Internet (see below).
The OECD papers derive from a request made during the previous G8 meeting held in Cologne in June 1999. The OECD was requested to undertake a study of the implications of biotechnology and the related food safety matters.
The package of documents sent by the OECD to the G8 leaders included the following.
1. An executive summary of food safety systems and activities in OECD countries
The principal function of this document is to give a general introduction to the documents described below. The "key messages" which summarise the entire "library" of materials are:
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overall, national food safety systems are effective in protecting public health;
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human health protection is the fundamental principle for safety systems;
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risk analysis is the basis for the control model used in all OECD countries;
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international organisations, such as OECD, have a role in facilitating international dialogue in matters such as food safety and especially where there is a degree of controversy.
2. Report of the OECD Task Force for the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds
This 72 page document describes the consumer safety issues that are addressed by government safety assessors when they evaluate new genetically modified foods.
The report notes that regulatory bodies in OECD countries have approved approximately 40 GM foods and further approvals are expected in the near future.
The report divides into three parts:
- 1.
scientific issues;
- 2.
current approaches and experiences;
- 3.
current needs and future challenges.
A significant annex provides a series of case studies provided by OECD countries. This annex summarises national experience in the regulation of GM foods. The following list of countries provides summaries of their national experience (relevant Web site links are cited):
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Australia. (Australia New Zealand Food Authority. http://www.anzfa.gov.au).
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Canada. (Health Canada. http://www.he-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment). (Canadian Food Inspection Agency. http://www.cfia-cfia.agr.ca). (Expert Scientific Panel. http://www.rse.ca/english/index.html). (Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee. http://www.cbac.gc.ca).
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Germany.
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Korea.
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Ireland.
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Japan.
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The Netherlands.
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Norway.
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Spain.
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UK. (Food Standards Agency. http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/maff/archive/food/novel/toxrev.htm). (Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. http://www.oodstandards.gov.uk/maff/archive/food/foodnov.htm).
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USA. FDA (consultation procedures). http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/consulpr.html
Within the report it is the countries for which Web sites are cited that make the most significant contribution; commentary on the other countries (coincidentally?) is significantly shorter.
3. Report from the Working Group on Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology
This report runs to 65 pages and focuses on the environmental safety aspects of GM products (foods and others) and essentially the impact on food crops. The principal concern is biodiversity since as the report comments "biodiversity is the ultimate source of food and genetic resources".
The report is considered as complementary to that described above and its structure follows a similar pattern. The main conclusion is that "environmental and food safety assessments are separate and distinct" there is need for close collaboration.
As with the previous report there are annexes giving national perspectives; again certain of these summaries give links to relevant Web sites (only cited here if different to those given above).
Two annexes are given:
- 1.
National and regional experiences of the relationship between food safety and environmental safety. Information is given for:
- 2.
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European Union;
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Norway;
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UK. (Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions. http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/fse/index.htm).
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- 3.
Comparison of the scientific issues addressed in national risk/safety assessment systems. This gives results of a study conducted specifically for this report. Countries for which information is provided are:
- 4.
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Australia;
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Austria;
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Canada;
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Denmark;
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Germany;
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Korea;
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Norway;
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USA. (Environmental Protection Agency). (Department of Agriculture).
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4. National food safety systems and their activities
The document is organised to consider matters such as:
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The development of national frameworks.
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Regulation of "modern biotechnology".
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Use of precautionary approaches and principles.
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Regulatory enforcement and compliance.
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Socio-economic concerns.
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Arrangements for communication and consultation.
5. An overview and compendium of international organisations with food safety activities
Although presented by OECD as separate documents there is consecutive numbering of the two parts at both page and paragraph levels:
- 1.
Overview. This document concludes:
- 2.
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"International standards have an increasing influence on national food safety systems, but must be adopted by national governments to have force of regulation or legislation."
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"Key issues under discussion are the role of science and the extent to which other factors are taken into account."
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"Building consensus towards international standards, and a greater involvement of developing countries, are key goals."
In this context, the report is principally referring to the work of United Nations sponsored organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (established 1945), World Health Organisation (WHO) (established 1948) and International Office of Epizotics (IOE) (established 1924). Each of these organisations is influenced principally by work undertaken by the industrially developed nations as typified by the OECD members. URLs for the three organisations are:
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FAO: http://www.fao.org
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WHO: http://www.who.org
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IOE: http://www.ioe.org
This report includes a table that summaries the work of these three organisations with respect to food safety.
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- 3.
Compendium. The document provides a descriptive summary of:
- 4.
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The institutional structure and regulatory framework relating to the international organisations with responsibilities for food safety (FAO, WHO and IOE) (see above).
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The institutional structure and regulatory framework relating to the international organisations with trade or environmental responsibilities (UNEP, WTO, OECD). Relevant URLs follow: UNEP: http://www.unep.org WTO: http: www.wto.org OECD: http://oecd.org
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Treaties, conventions and programmes relating to food safety.
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International activities addressing food safety issues.
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International standards for the "products of modern biotechnology".
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Use of precautionary principles.
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Socio-economic concerns, consultation and communication.
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6. Compendium of national food safety systems and activities for each of the OECD member states
This document is the most substantial of the OECD "library" (it runs to 339 pages). Information is given for each of the following:
- 1.
Australia.
- 2.
Canada.
- 3.
Czech Republic.
- 4.
European Commission.
- 5.
EU States:
- 6.
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Austria;
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Belgium;
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Denmark;
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Finland;
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France;
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Germany;
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Greece;
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Ireland Italy;
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The Netherlands;
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Portugal;
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Spain;
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Sweden;
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UK.
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- 7.
Hungary.
- 8.
Iceland.
- 9.
Japan.
- 10.
Korea.
- 11.
Mexico.
- 12.
New Zealand.
- 13.
Norway.
- 14.
Poland.
- 15.
Switzerland.
- 16.
Turkey.
- 17.
USA.
Whilst there is significant national variation between systems and procedures, this document includes for each country discussion of each of the following themes:
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summary of the principal legislative instruments;
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review of national food safety systems and activities;
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summary of the national legislative base and enforcement procedures;
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methods of risk analysis, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication;
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consideration of openness and consumer representation;
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review of research and surveillance.
In addition to the documents prepared especially for the G8 meeting the "library" of materials presented in Okinawa also included the following:
- 1.
Chairman's report and rapporteurs' summary of the OECD Edinburgh conference on the scientific and health aspects of GM foods (28 February - 1 March 2000).
- 2.
Summary report of an OECD consultation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) held 20 November 1999.
It should be noted that items indicated as 1, 4, 5 and 6 above are deemed to be papers to the ad hoc OECD Group for the Safety of Novel Food and Feeds whilst items indicated as 2 and 3 are (higher level) papers from the OECD Council.
The entire "library" of materials presented by the OECD to the Okinawa G8 meeting can be accessed via the following URL:
http://www.oecd.org/subject/biotech/g8_docs.htm
The full text of each of the OECD documents referred to above is available as a <.pdf> file.
If you have identified a Web site likely to be of interest to readers of British Food Journal please contact the author of this series of articles at one of the addresses given below:
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By e-mail to stephen.fallows@luton.ac.uk
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By fax to 01234 766926 or 01582 743237
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By post at the University of Luton
Acknowledgement will be given to those providing such identification.
Dr Stephen FallowsUniversity of Luton