Myhr, A. I., Myskja, B. K. (2018) Gene-edited organisms should be assesses for sustainability, ethics and societal impacts. In Professionals in food chain, edited by Springer, S., Grimm, H. Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp. 99-103 https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-869-8_13

In this chapter we argue that an approval procedure for the use and release of gene-edited plants and animals should include a broad assessment. We take our point of departure from the Norwegian Gene Technology Act (GTA) which states that risk assessment of GMOs should be supplemented by an assessment of the sustainability, ethical and societal impact prior to regulatory approval of the novel products. Even if gene-edited organisms are considered comparable to non-GMOs in terms of risks, the technology has impacts that calls for an assessment of the kind required in the GTA.

A number of new animal and plant breeding techniques (NBTs) has been developed, such as the genome editing technique CRISPR/Cas9. Internationally it is debated if gene-edited organisms should be subjected to the same risk assessment requirements as GMOs. In Europe this regulatory discussion is not decided yet, but we argue that even if gene-edited plants and animals are exempt from GMO risk assessment, an approval procedure should include a broad assessment of such plants and animals.

 

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