CASE STUDY 6: Application for Commodity
Imports of Genetically Modified Maize
1. Brief Description of the Genetically Modified Plant
This application is for the import of genetically modified maize for food processing, not planting. A
shortage of yellow maize is being experienced, and it will be necessary to import maize from the
United States and Argentina. Because as much as 50% or more of maize crops in these countries is
genetically modified, it must be assumed that imports will contain some GM seed.
2. General Release
These imports will not be used for planting, but only for food and feed processing. The seed will be
milled and is not expected to escape into the local environment. We propose to import the commod-
ity maize using the conditions devised for phytosanitary containment. The seed will be offloaded
into sealed containers, shipped to the nearest mill, and milled immediately. No storage of seed will
be allowed. The milled maize is nonliving and will not grow and reproduce when released into the
food chain.
3. Description of Any Product Derived from the Plant
The seed will be used to produce maize products for the food industry (glucose syrups, etc.) and
animal feeds. Milled maize will be declared “genetically modified” when purchased from the mills.
The importers have no control over labeling beyond this point.
4. Brief Summary of Field Trials Undertaken
It is not clear which modifications will be in the seed imports, but all have received human and ani-
mal health safety permits in the country of origin. Product development would have required a num-
ber of years of trials in the country of export. A summary of the food and feed safety data for all the
possible events in imports is given in the attached table.
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Summary of food safety data for maize transformations approved in exporting countries
EVENT
NEW TRAIT
TOXICITY
PATHOGENICITY
DIGESTIBILITY
ALLERGENICITY
LEVEL IN GRAIN*
MARKER GENE
NUTRITION &
COMPOSITION
CHANGES**
EXISTING
APPROVALS
GV 367 Insect tolerance None None 8–10 sec None 8 ng/g Kanamycin antibiotic No statistically Food and feed use:
Bt cry1A resistance significant differences EU, USA, Canada,
Argentina
MOL 3T6 Insect & herbicide None None 8–11 sec None 20 ng/g Glyphosate (herbicide) No statistically Food and feed use:
tolerance tolerance significant differences USA, Argentina
Bt cry1AB + EPSPS
AG Novo Insect tolerance None None 18–20 sec No similarity, but 14 ng/g Streptomycin/ No statistically Food and feed use:
Bt cry9c slow digestion Spectinomycin significant differences USA, Argentina
antibiotic resistance
PILT 56 Insect & herbicide None None 6–12 sec None 38 ng/g Phosphinothricin No statistically Feed use: USA
tolerance (herbicide) tolerance significant differences
Bt cry1A + bar
NOTE: These are fictitious data and do not represent any known GM events. *Foreign protein; dry weight **Comparison with nontransformed equivalent variety
Case Study Exercises
5. Pollen Spread
Not applicable because the seed will not be planted.
6. Seed Dispersal
Using phytosanitary containment conditions (sealed containers), the seed is unlikely to drop off
trucks during transport from harbors to mills.
7. Vegetative Spread of the Genetically Modified Plants
Maize does not spread vegetatively.
8. Foreign Genes and Gene Products
It is not clear which foreign constructs will be present in the imported seed. A list of approved maize
transgenics is supplied for the United States, but no such list was available from Argentina.
9 . Resistance
Resistance will not be an issue because the seed will be milled within 48 hours of landing and will not
be allowed to grow in the country.
10 . Human and Animal Health
All transgenic events in Argentina and the United States have passed human- and animal-safety
assessments. It can be assumed that the seed will not pose a health risk to local consumers.
Nonetheless, data have been supplied to enable an assessment by local health and nutrition experts.
A summary of these data is given in the attached table.
11. Environmental Impact and Protection
Because the seed will not be planted, no environmental impact is expected.
12. Socio-Economic Impact
A shortage of maize puts tremendous stress on the price of this staple food. This has an adverse
impact on the majority of the people in the country for whom maize is a staple source of nutrition
and sustenance. Obtaining import contracts when prices are good enables local producers to source
yellow maize for feed and food processing. This leaves locally grown white maize predominantly for
food.
13. Waste Disposal
No waste disposal issues are raised with this general release because living GMOs will not be released
into the environment and the plant material is not toxic.
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