ESCOP/ECOP GMO Task Force
Charge to the Committee
October 29, 1999

  1. Identify the issues related to GMOs:
    1. Adequacy of current regulations:
      1. Are current regulations on GMOs sufficient to address public concern?
      2. If not, what additional regulations need to be evaluated?
    2. Food Safety Research Needs:
      1. Human health
      2. Ag chemical reduction
      3. Labeling/Marketing
      4. Risks/Benefits
    3. Environmental Needs:
      1. Sustainability
      2. Ag chemical reduction
      3. Target/Non-target effects
      4. Risks/Benefits
    4. National and International Trade Issues
      1. Producer Issues:
        Handling crops, segregation, choices of cultivars, control of seed supplies, use of crop.
      2. Consumer Issues:
        Labeling/Marketing
    5. Education of Producers and Consumers
      1. Fact/Fear; take opposing views seriously
      2. Data interpretation and trust
      3. Risks/Benefits; evaluate both sides of the issue
      4. What do the GMO opponents want?
      5. Is GMO the right term; would “transgenic organisms” or another term be better?
      6. How and with whom do we communicate with to resolve the issues?
  2. Funding Issues:
    1. Are there additional research and education needs, gaps to fill?
    2. What are the potential sources of funding?
  3. Expected Task Force Outcomes:
    1. Specific recommendations identifying actions items that address the issues and concerns about GMOs. (We do not want another white paper on GMOs but specific action items that will lead to resolution of the issues.)
    2. We need the Task Force to quickly address the issues and report to ECOP/ESCOP by January 1, 2000.