Transgenic technology is to use modern biological technology to introduce target genes into the organism's genome after artificial separation and recombination, so as to improve the original traits of the organism or give it new excellent traits. Since the advent of transgenic technology, it has brought a lot of controversy. Especially the safety of genetically modified food (GMF) has always been consumers’ concern.

In order to ensure the safety of GMF and reduce risks, food safety regulators in different countries and regions actively adopt different regulatory approaches. The management of GMF in Taiwan is also relatively strict. Today global foodmate hopes to help you quickly understand the management of GM food in Taiwan by answering a few questions.

What is genetic modification?

The term “genetic modification” shall mean the transferring of genetic materials or implant of live cells or organisms via genetic engineering, molecular biotechnology, or other related technologies to produce genetic recombination, exogenous genetic characteristics, or to suppress certain genes of the recipient. However, this does not include traditional breeding methods or techniques such as the merging, hybridization, mutation, in-vitro fertilization, somaclonal variation, and chromosome doubling of plants of the same species and protoplasts.

Genetically modified foods (GMF) refers to the foods produced and manufactured by genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Can genetically modified food be used freely?

According to the regulations in Taiwan, food materials containing genetically modified foods must be subject to a health risk assessment review by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), and license documents will be issued after inspection and registration, otherwise they shall not be used as food materials. The "GMF Advisory Council" is responsible for the technical review of GMF. The advisory council is composed of scholars and experts in food hygiene, nutrition, molecular biology, medicine, toxicology, agriculture and law organized by the TFDA. In addition, the advisory council will also provide advice or suggestions on the formulation of GMF policies and the development of GMF plans.

What materials should be prepared to apply for registration?

The attached documents and information include:

(a)Application form for registration of genetically modified food.
(b)Basic information table of the applicant company.
(c)Basic information of genetically modified food.
(d)Abstract of genetically modified food safety assessment report.
(e)Safety assessment report of genetically modified food.

Application dossier shall be prepared according to the “Guideline for Food Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Organisms” as announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

(f)Overall list of relevant research reports and literatures.
List and attach the relevant original research reports and literature.
(g)Photocopies of approvals in the world and the data sheet.


What is the limit of doping rate for non-GM food raw materials?

Non genetically modified food raw materials, which are unintentionally mixed with genetically modified food raw materials due to harvesting, storage and transportation or other factors, and whose content is less than 3%, will be regarded as non-GM food raw materials. If the doping rate of GMO exceeds 3%, they will be regarded as GM food raw materials. However, if the GM raw materials are artificially added to food, even if only 1%, the food will be regarded as genetically modified food.

How to query approved GM product information?

Regarding the disclosure of information on approved genetically modified products in Taiwan, specific information can be found on the TFDA food and drug consumer website. Currently approved GMF ingredients include canola, corn, soybeans and sugar beets. Approved product information in the database includes product type, unique identifier, product name, event, applicant, date of approval and date of expiration.

How to label pre-packaged foods containing genetically modified raw materials?

For prepackaged foods produced using genetically modified food materials, the words "genetically modified" (基因改造) or "contains genetically modified" (含基因改造) should be marked. The marked font should be clearly distinguished from other texts, and the length and width of the font should not be less than 2 mm.

If the pre-packaged food directly uses GM food raw materials, but the final product no longer contains transgenic gene fragments or transgenic proteins, it can be labeled in any of the following ways, and the font length and width should not be less than 2mm.

(a)"Genetic modification", "including genetic modification" or "using genetic modification 〇〇" (“基因改造”、“含基因改造”、“使用基因改造 〇〇”).

(b)"This product is processed by genetic modification 〇〇, but does not contain genetically modified ingredients" or "This product has genetically modified 〇〇 in its processing materials, but no longer contains genetically modified ingredients" (“本产品为基因改造〇〇加工制成, 但已不含基因改造成分”or“本产品加工原料中有基因改造〇〇, 但已不含有基因改造成分”).

(c)"This product does not contain genetically modified ingredients, but is processed by genetically modified 〇〇" or "This product does not contain genetically modified ingredients, but there is genetically modified 〇〇 in the processing raw materials"(“本产品不含基因改造成分，但为基因改造〇〇加工制成”或“本产品不含基因改造成分，但加工原料中有基因改造〇〇”).

Information related to genetic modification should be marked after the name of the product, the name of the material, or in a prominent position on other containers or outer packages.

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Please note: Original English article of Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate, please indicate the source from the Global Foodmate if reprint.

Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

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