Abstract:

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.