Science based criteria for a simplified risk assessment of genetic engineered crops developed using identical or similar constructs

Abstract

Experience with Agricultural Biotechnology and the widespread adoption of different genetically engineered (GE) crops around the world has enabled breeders to develop different crops with similar phenotypic characteristics using the same or related genetic constructs. Identical constructs would be used mostly on vegetatively propagated crops, which need to be transformed de novo to produce new varieties with the same phenotypic characteristic(s), while similar constructs would also be used to develop different GE crops. The history of safe use of different methodologies by breeders to generate diversity in crops, current knowledge about plant genome dynamics, and experience with transgenesis provide a reasonable basis to focus on the introduced traits and phenotypes. Additionally, when assessing risks, the domestication, conventional breeding, and the intrinsic plasticity of plant genomes are recognized as greater sources of genetic changes than methodologies based on genetic engineering.