Risk assessment and risk management of transgenic pharmaplants

In case natural plants cross-compatible with LMO exist, non-LM crop should be used not only no-effect standard but also effect standard of introgression. The reason is as follows. Crop was developed from natural plants, for human needs, such as stable yield and good taste (quality). In other words, crop lost the several properties of weeds (weediness). Once crop genes, even in none-LMO, make introgression to the natural plants, these natural plants may lose weediness or ability for survival. This impact should be taken into account for risk assessment of transgenic plants.

Gene introgression via seed should be focused as well as via pollen. This introgression may cause spatially (seed dispersion) and temporally (seed bank). When LMO voluntarily invade into natural circumstances, we mainly focus on competitive advantage. However, seed longevity also important, since its adverse effects on the biodiversity remains in long term. Therefore plants which have strong potential to form seed bank should not be appropriate as host for LMO.

Just for your information, I will add the domestic rules on Cartagena Protocol in Japan in Library site soon.

Please find following URL on the domestic law and regulations on Cartagena Law in Japan.

The list of approved LMOs is also available with Type 1 use (open field) regulation and the risk assessment.

Approved LMOs in　are totally 136 until mid. October, 19 (2008), 29 (2007), 31 (2006), 33 (2005), and 24 (2004). Most of them are transgenic crop in Type 1 use (open field), and the major traits are herbicide (glyphosate, glufosinate) resistant and the resistant to insects with the protein from BT.

URL: http://www.bch.biodic.go.jp/english/law.html

Best regards,
Y.Yogo