Annual report of the EFSA Scientific Network for Risk Assessment of GMOs for 2015

The EFSA Scientific Network for Risk Assessment of GMOs (the GMO Network) was established in accordance with EFSA’s strategy for cooperation and networking with Member States. The goals of the GMO Network are to improve dialogue among members, build mutual understanding of risk assessment principles, enhance knowledge and confidence in the scientific assessment carried out in the EU, and increase the transparency of the process among Member States and EFSA. The annual reports of the GMO Network inform the public and the EFSA Advisory Forum about the specific activities and achievements of the network. During its meeting in 2015, the GMO Network discussed the following documents and topics: the draft guidance document on the agronomic and phenotypic characterisation of GM plants; the draft guidance document for the risk assessment of the renewal of GM plant products authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003; the use of EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database for estimating dietary exposure to GM foods; EFSA’s self-task to supplement its previous risk mitigation measures reducing exposure of non-target Lepidoptera to maize MON 810, Bt11 or 1507 pollen; new plant breeding techniques including synthetic biology; second generation GMOs; and the use of negative segregants in the comparative assessment. In 2015, GMO Network members attended EFSA scientific meetings relevant for the risk assessment of GMOs.