Stance on Safety Assessments of Genetically Modified Feed and Feed Additives (Food Safety Commission Decision of May 6, 2004).

Pursuant to the Act on the Assurance of Safety and Improvement of Quality of feed, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has carried out confirmation of the safety of feed and feed additives manufactured using recombinant DNA technology (genetically modified feed and genetically modified feed additives), with a view to preventing the production of harmful livestock products and preventing obstructions in the production of livestock products due any harm caused to said livestock. As of July 1, 2003, the Food Safety Commission became responsible for conducting assessments of the effect on human health of livestock products made from livestock that have consumed genetically modified feed or feed additives. In respect of the effect of foodstuff associated with feed on human health, it is reasonable to assess the safety of feed and livestock products, taking into consideration the possibility that harmful substances contained in said feed can be transferred to meat, milk, eggs, and other livestock products through providing said feed to livestock animals, and that the components of said feed could transform into harmful substances and accumulate in livestock through in vivo metabolism.
According to the Feed Control Act, in order to import, sell and use genetically modified feed/additives of foreign origin, the developer shall obtain the GMO certificate issued by the central competent authority after passing the verification tests (including biosafety check); Genetically modified organisms (GMO; animals, plants or microbes) of domestic origin that have completed field tests and relevant reviews may be used for feedstuffs. The developer shall apply with the central competent authority for GMO certificate for feedstuffs usage. Only after such a certificate is issued after passing verification tests (including biosafety check) can the GMO be exported, made into feed/additives, or used as feed/additives.
These Regulations provide for the procedure, documents to be presented for application, review period and criteria, as well as issuance, renewal and replacement of GMO certificates.