UK issues field testing guidelines

The planned release of genetically manipulated organisms may over the coming decades bring considerable benefits in agriculture and the environment. The foreseeable applications are generating justifiable excitement and as biological knowledge and expertise in genetic manipulation increase, so without doubt will the range of these applications. Nevertheless this novel use of genetic manipulation does pose questions of potential hazard to human, animal and plant health and of environmental impact in general. While there is some accumulated experience of risk assessment based on the evolution of novel traits in existing populations and the introduction of organisms to ecosystems, there is no experience as yet involving the introduction of genetically manipulated organisms. The risk assessment of such projects may involve many factors, reflecting the complexity of environmental interactions. It is not yet possible to devise a single, broadly applicable risk assessment scheme. However, a number of factors relevant to the majority of foreseeable release applications can be identified and these should be used to develop a consistent approach to risk assessment. As evidence accumulates, these guidelines will be subject to review by ACGM. Meanwhile, all proposals to release genetically manipulated organisms must be considered by ACGM on a case by case basis.