Opinion of the Central Committee on Biosafety (ZKBS) on the safety assessment of antibiotic resistance genes in the genome of genetically modified plants

The opinion of the Central Committee on Biosafety (ZKBS) on the safety assessment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the genome of genetically modified plants states that the risk assessment of ARG shell be guided by the likelihood of horizontal gene transfer to micro-organisms and their natural abundance in micro-organisms. Therefore, the classification of antibiotics into groups of therapeutic relevance will not find consideration anymore. The ZKBS concludes that horizontal gene transfer of ARGs from genetically modified plants to micro-organisms is negligible compared to natural processes of transfer and de novo establishment. Furthermore, the described ARGs are abundant in natural micro-organism communities anyway.  

The Central Biosafety Commission (ZKBS) is an expert scientific committee made up of 20 members and 20 deputy members, who represent different specialist areas or spheres of corporate interest. Its offices are based at the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). Its members and deputy members are appointed by the Federal Ministry for Food, agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) for three years. The ZKBS evaluates GMOs for possible risk potential, assigns genetic engineering operations to a biosafety level and recommends suitable safety measures. The german federal states obtain ZKBS position statements for genetic engineering operations in safety categories 3 and 4 and for operations in a lower safety category, whose classification is not clear. The ZKBS also evaluates approval applications for releases and for the placing of GMOs on the market and also issues a report to the BVL. An activity report is published annually.