A Ready-To-Use Multi-Target Analytical System for GM Soy and Maize Detection for Enforcement Laboratories

Abstract

Today GMO analysis has become an integral part in the development of new genetically modified plants, in subsequent breeding, seed production and verification programmes. GMO analysis is a key technology in export and import of agricultural commodity products, for ascertaining regulatory compliance of GMOs in different countries, for labelling requirements, and for product authenticity and traceability. In Europe, in particular, GMO analysis is implemented in all Member States to fulfil legal requirements regarding GMOs and GMO-derived products, their release into the environment, cultivation, importation and their utilisation as food, food ingredients and animal feed (European Commission 2001, 2003a, 2003b). A key technical element for the authorisation of GMOs within the EU is the provision of an event-specific quantitative detection method validated according to internationally accepted standards to allow the control and monitoring of a particular GMO along the production, processing and the distribution chain. In this context the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) has the mission to provide scientific and technical support to EU policy development on GMO. The nominated European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL-GMFF) at the JRC is working at the forefront of GMO analysis in Europe. Legally responsible for method validation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (European Commission 2003a), the EURLGMFF works in close collaboration with the European Network of GMO Laboratories not only in method validation but also in the harmonisation of a number of topics spanning from sampling to method development, data analysis and measurement of uncertainty. In addition, in Europe, the EURL-GMFF plays a key role in the official food controls according to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (European Commission 2004a). Still, the multi-factorial nature of GMO analysis, the diverse and often complex composition of the samples under examination, the increasing number of GM events and, finally, the