Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms in Taiwan

International Conference on Food Safety and Regulatory Measures

August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Wen-Shen Chu1 and Hsin-Tang Lin2

1Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Taiwan 2National I-Lan University, Taiwan

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Most major countries establish GM technology management policy with national characteristics according to its domestic politics, economics and social environments and public opinions. Taiwan has adopted an interagency approach for GM technology management through the existing regulatory systems as follows: 1. Basic researches: The National Science Council (NSC), Executive Yuan, oversees laboratory works on GM technology according to �??The Rules for Conduct in Respect to Genetic Recombination Experiment�?�. The Rules, designed to ensure GM laboratory safety, is only an administrative rule with no legal power. To address the rather limited application scope and the legal status of the Rules, NSC is going to set appropriate legal authority in the �??Fundamental Science and Technology Act�?�. Then, a �??GM Technology Research and Development Management Regulation�?� will be drafted based on the Act, 2. Field trials: Taiwan has no general management regulation on field trials of GMO, but there are various regulations set that target for specific types of GMO. For GM plants, Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) of the Council of Agriculture (COA), Executive Yuan, sets explicit regulations on the management of field trials according to �??The Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act�?� and its derived regulations. For GM animals, Department of Animal Industry (DAI) of COA sets regulations on the management of field trials based on the �??Animal Industry Act�?� and its derived regulations. For GM aquatic animals and plants, Fisheries Agency (FA) of COA sets regulations on the management of field trials according to the �??The Fishery Law�?� and its derived regulations. For GM microorganisms, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Executive Yuan, currently sets regulation in the �??Environmental Agents Control Act�?� and the �??Genetic Engineering Environmental Agent Microbial Preparations Development Management Regulation�?�. On the other hand, COA is revising the �??Agro-pesticides Management Act�?� and the �??Veterinary Drugs Control Act�?� to adopt the applications of GM technology on pesticides and veterinary drugs to reinforce the existing GM microorganisms management mechanism, 3. Marketing Approval: Regarding GM foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants and microorganisms, the Department of Health and Welfare (DOHW), Executive Yuan is responsible for marketing approval pursuant to �??The Act Governing Food Sanitation�?� and its derived regulations. There are 7 articles (out of 60) regarding GM foods in the Act. DOHW continues deliberating �??Guideline for Food Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods Derived from Recombinant- DNA Animals�?� (draft). To fulfill GM feed management mechanism, COA has amended the �??Feed Control Act�?� as the legal basis for management. GM feeds and feed additives shall file product registration with a gracious period of two years after the Act is promulgated. GM feed management will probably follow the precedent of GM food to ensure the safety of the food chain and 4. Import and Export of GMO: There are currently rather limited regulations for the import and export of GMO and have yet to be consolidated. The government ministries will review the relevant legal systems based on the necessity and urgency of management and adjust the regulatory systems accordingly.

Biography :

Wen Shen Chu has completed his PhD at the age of 36 years from University of Minnesota. He is the deputy director of Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, a non-profit research organization. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals.

Email: cws@firdi.org.tw