RESUMO
Although public opinion is important in deciding what is valued by society, governments have determined that scientific expertise is required to evaluate potential environmental effects of genetically modified (GM) crops. We suggest how to evaluate rigorously the environmental effects of GM crops in the context of a scientific investigation. Following a disciplined scientific approach to environmental risk assessment (ERA) for GM crops should help resolve controversy in identifying and addressing risk.
Assuntos
Produtos Agrícolas/efeitos adversos , Produtos Agrícolas/genética , Política Ambiental , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/efeitos adversos , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genética , Opinião Pública , Biotecnologia/legislação & jurisprudência , Biotecnologia/normas , Ecologia , Medição de Risco/métodos , Medição de Risco/normasRESUMO
An international initiative is developing a scientifically rigorous approach to evaluate the potential risks to nontarget arthropods (NTAs) posed by insect-resistant, genetically modified (IRGM) crops. It adapts the tiered approach to risk assessment that is used internationally within regulatory toxicology and environmental sciences. The approach focuses on the formulation and testing of clearly stated risk hypotheses, making maximum use of available data and using formal decision guidelines to progress between testing stages (or tiers). It is intended to provide guidance to regulatory agencies that are currently developing their own NTA risk assessment guidelines for IRGM crops and to help harmonize regulatory requirements between different countries and different regions of the world.