Abstract

VILLALOBOS HERNANDEZ, M-Eugenia  and  ESPINOZA ESQUIVEL, Ana M. Request for consultation for deregulation of foods derived from genetically enhanced crops developed in Costa Rica . Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.2, pp.94-100. ISSN 1409-1429.

Objective: To develop a feasibility analysis of the implementation of a consultation process as it would apply to foods derived from genetically modified crops in Costa Rica; this includes a general proposal for procedures for a consultation request within the country, in order to deregulate foods derived from genetically modified crops. The Ministry of Health would be responsible for the Consultation. Methods: The proposal includes procedures for Consultation reception, group of experts for evaluation, information required in the dossier of genetically-modified crops and Consultation resolution communication. The proposal was constructed based on biosafety regulatory frameworks, used by industrialized countries, which are meant to guide developers on guidelines for the safety assessment of novel foods. Results: These guidelines follow the substantial equivalence concept, which defines what information should be accepted internationally to demonstrate that the new food is safe for human and animal consumption. In this essay a review of the biosecurity regulatory procedures in Costa Rica is presented; this review indicates that there is expertise on the regulation of planting and mobilization of GM materials. Discussion: However there is a lack of procedures addressed to doing a Consultation for deregulating a GM food that has completed the substantial equivalence process.

Keywords : biosafety; biotechnology; food genetically modified; legislation food.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )