Risk assessment GMO in fruit and vegetables
Although GMO fruit & vegetables at present is not a major concern in Europe, on should be aware of activities in the rest of the world that might have an impact due to globalisation on local markets as well.
(Known) commercial cultivation of GMO fruit and vegetable is still strongly restricted to the following species:
Fruit / vegetable /crops |
Cultivation |
Approved for sales in |
Comments |
Papaya |
USA (Hawaii), China |
USA (Hawaii), China, Japan |
Some cases of GMO papaya detected by EU import authorities; from Thailand (2013-2017) !, Cambodia (2016) and India (chilled fruit 2016) and from China (2017) |
Egg plant (Aubergine) |
Bangladesh (since 2016) |
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Beans (green beans, horsebeans, cowpea, black-eyed pea), |
Brazil (season 2016 / 2017) |
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Potatoe ( “Innate W 8”) |
USA (2015) |
USA (expected 2017) |
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Potatoe (“Russet Burbank”, “Ranger Russet”, “Atlantic”) |
Canada |
Canada |
Although the CETA treaty has been set in force on Sept 21st 2017 provisionally, these (and all other GMO products produced in Canada must not be exported to EU! |
Apples (“Arctic”) |
USA (2015) |
USA (2017) |
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Sugar beet |
USA , Canada |
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Zucchini, squash |
USA (stopped) |
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Bll pepper |
China (there are rumours) |
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Tomato |
China (there are rumours) |
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Rice |
Iran (there are rumours) |
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The acceptance of GMO fruit & vegetables is still very low among the population. In Europe currently no GMO fruit and vegetables are on the market. However with respect to the finding of GMP papaya it is recommended to insist in a declaration from suppliers and in case of a suspicion it should be analytically checked.
Read more:
- EU Register of authorised GMOs European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/food/
- Compilation of GMO research projects: http://www.transgen.de/datenbank/pflanzen/