Food News

AGROLAB Ibérica has implemented the tests to comply with the screening strategy for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture for the control of plant material (soybean, corn, rapeseed and cotton seeds).

The resolution of 17 December 2020 regulating the protocol of the seed control, sampling and analysis plan for the detection of the presence of GMOs states that operators shall make available to the competent authorities analytical tests for the presence of GMOs to ensure compliance with the applicable regulations.

Taking into account the recommendations of the reference laboratories based on the conclusions of the European Commission's audit report in 2018, the European Commission noted the importance of ensuring a broad analytical coverage. 

In this line of work, the Molecular Biology Department of AGROLAB Ibérica has developed a screening strategy (in line with that recommended by the European Union Reference Laboratory for food and feed EURL) with combined analyses including several independent analytical methods to detect specific events, elements or constructs. 

This allows us to detect 100% of the analysable events (authorised, pending authorisation and non-authorised) for which a method has been defined and validated. In total EURL has described 14 events for oilseed rape, 14 for cotton, 20 for soybean and 29 for maize.

This strategy, together with our different accreditations in this field (ISO 17025 accreditation in different elements and constructions and the Accreditation Programme "Tests for the control of organic production NT-70.09" in the GMO part) allows us to offer specific and customised packages depending on the matrices and the specific needs of each client.

Currently, AGROLAB Ibérica has been designated and works as Official Control Laboratory by several Autonomous Communities and therefore we are part of the Official Working Group for the Analysis of Genetically Modified Organisms for food, feed and seeds.

Finally, we would like to remind you that the operator is always responsible for the choice of the analytical tests to be included in the certificates of analysis submitted to the competent authorities as part of their self-control system to ensure compliance with current regulations on GMOs.

YOUR PLUS: AGROLAB Ibérica has a technical team highly specialised in GMOs that can advise you on the analytical tests that best suit your specific case.

Author: Guillermo Gordillo (AGROLAB Iberica), translated by DEEPL