May 22, 2012 | 3:58 pm

Cotton GHB614

Summary of risk assessment

Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Adopted 05/03/2009
Conclusion GHB614-Cotton is as safe as its conventional counterpart and therefore the placing on the market for processing and food and feed use is unlikely to cause adverse effects on human health and the environment.

 

Comparative study
Basis of comparsion The variety Coker312 was selected as a comparison conventional plant (isogenic line).
Qualities of the plant Different parameters, such as plant morphology, seed and plant development, reproductive traits, disease and pest susceptibility, weed control, yield, cotton seed and fibre quality were compared.
Compositional analysis Seeds and Cotton-Linters were compared. These short fibres consist mainly of Cellulose and are a raw material for food additives like Cellulose (E460) and Methycellulose (E461).

Different nutrients (fats, proteins, carbohydrates) as well as fibres, a toxicant, mineral elements, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids were investigated:
There were no differences with the comparison conventional plants observed.

 

Safety of food and feed
New protein
(2mEPSPS)		 Acute oral toxicity study and intravenously application using mice: no indication of acute toxicity.

Comparison with known toxicologically questionable substances:
no correlation.

Allergenicity of new proteins No correlation was found with any known allergens (comparison of the amino acidsequences).

There have been no cases reported yet, in which there have been allergic reactions to cotton in the GHB614-Cotton. Furthermore, the main cottonseed product in human food, cottonseed oil, is highly purified and contains negligible levels of proteins, if any. Therefore, it seems improbable that GHB614-Cotton could trigger allergies.

Trials in an artificial digestive tract showed that the new protein is not very stable and is rapidly decomposed.
Nutritional equivalence 42-day feeding trial on broiler chickens with a diet of GHB614-Cottonseed:
No damaging effects were observed.

 

Enviromental safety
Survivebility Cotton originates from tropical regions. In its main production areas, it is improbable that cotton would establish itself outside of the cultivated fields.
Out-crossing Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), is mainly self-pollinating. However, it is possible that the pollen may be spread by bees and bumble bees that visit the flowers. Thereby, out-crossings with other cultivated varieties may occur.

Cultivated cotton can cross-breed with certain cultivated species. No sexually compatible wild relatives of G. hirsutum have been reported in Europe.

The import and use of food and animal feed that have been produced from seed or linters of GHB614-Cotton has been applied for, however, not the cultivation in the EU. Therefore, the likelihood of cross-pollination between the imported cotton GHB614, other cotton crops and occasional feral cotton plants is considered to be extremely low.
Field trails Field trails in the USA (2004-2006).