UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM WIDE EARTH WATCH
Earthwatch Working Party 7
Geneva, 10-11 December 2001
UNEP/EWWP7/Inf.5
10 December 2001
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT SUBMITTED BY THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Fixty sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly
Second Committee
item 98 (d)
October 2001
World Health Organization
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Modern Biotechnology
Where Human Health and Environment challenges MEET
The application of modern biotechnology to agricultural, food production and medical
technologies has the potential to contribute to human health and welfare and
sustainable development. Over the last decade, however, the potential risks of gene
technology, the vanguard of biotechnology, and genetically modified (GM)
organisms, have raised concern globally. Concerns include the novelty and safety of
foods produced using gene technology, access to the technology by developing
countries, and the potential impact of GM organisms released into the environment.
The World Health Organization, together with other stakeholders, strives to meet the
global challenges of modern biotechnology for human health and welfare and the
environment in the following areas.
1.
Building a Research Consortium to Assess the Impacts of Modern Food
Biotechnology on Global Human Health and Welfare: starting end-2001
The Fifty-third World Health Assembly (May 2000) recognized that the application of
gene technologies to food is an important health issue and resolved that WHO should
strengthen its capacity to provide a scientific basis for decisions on the effects of
genetically modified (GM) foods on human health and welfare. WHO and FAO have
worked since1990 to achieve consistent criteria for assessing the safety of foods and
food ingredients derived from GM organisms. This work has included a number of
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultations. The outcome of these is provided to all
Member States, to support them in establishing consistent safety standards; and to the
Codex Alimentarius Commission to contribute to its work of establishing
international food safety standards.
Following from the World Health Assembly resolution, WHO will be commissioning
a research consortium to establish a knowledge base to assist Member States,
international standard-setting bodies and other stakeholders to achieve consensus on
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UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM WIDE EARTH WATCH
appropriate modes of application and risk assessment of foods produced using gene
technology. The research consortium will identify and recapitulate current knowledge
on the potential risks and benefits of modern biotechnology, considering both direct
and indirect effects. Areas covered will include current and future application of gene
technology to food production, issues of food safety, access and technology transfer,
socio-economic costs/benefits, civil society implications and, to a certain extent,
environmental impacts.
2.
Reevaluating Biosafety and Transport
It is WHO’s responsibility to provide an international scientific forum in which the
issues of risk analysis, handling, packaging, labelling and transport of biological
substances are considered in the context of international health and environmental
safety. In order to accomplish these goals, WHO regularly consults with subjectmatter experts and various national and international organizations dealing with
biological and environmental safety. These efforts are designed to promote safe,
practical and economic practices for the identification, handling and transport of
biological substances, which include diagnostic specimens, etiological agents, human
organs and tissues and genetically modified microorganisms. The WHO Biological
Safety programme works to establish consensus recommendations for the handling
and shipment of biological substances based on universal precautions and best
practices. These model procedures and practices are presented for consideration to
the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Published
recommendations of that UN body are widely consulted for the establishment of
national regulatory practices as well as handling, packaging and shipment
requirements by international cargo and transport organizations.
For further information please contact:
1.
Dr Jorgen Schlundt, Coordinator, Food Safety Programme, Department of
Protection of the Human Environment, Sustainable Development and Healthy
Environments, WHO
e-mail: schlundtj@who.int
Website: http://www.who.int/fsf
2.
Dr Diego Buriot, Director, WHO Office in Lyon, Department of
Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, WHO
e-mail: buriotd@lyon.who.int
Website: http://www.who.int/emc/lyon
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