Dr Zamri Ishak Elliza Mat Nor

SEMINAR KESEDARAN GMO KEBANGSAAN

01-02hb Nov 2016Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya 1

ROLES OF

JABATAN KIMIA MALAYSIA

National

• GMO Laboratory –The

only lab to support

enforcement of Biosafety

Act 2007 and release

reports for export

certificates, Food Act

1985

• National Reference

Laboratory for GMO

• Lead agency of GMO

Technical Working Group

• Member of Malaysian

Genetic Modification

Advisory Committee

(GMAC)

International

• ASEAN Food Testing

Laboratories Committee (AFTLC)

• ASEAN Genetically Modified

Food Network (GMFNet) with

MARDI

• ASEAN Reference Laboratory

For GMO (since 2004)

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ON-GOING MAIN TECHNICAL

ACTIVITIES IN JABATAN KIMIA

MALAYSIA

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• Method expansion, validation &

accreditation under ISO 17025

• Proficiency Testing Provider for GMO

• Training Provider

• Coordinating GMO activities in Malaysia

and ASEAN

Scope of GMO testing

-Raw and processed food

-Qualitative and quantitative detection by

PCR , Real-time PCR and

Digital Droplet -PCR

-Crop: Soybean, Maize, Rice, Papaya,

Potato, wheat, and other crops

GMO Analyses:

>90 accredited Methods (ISO

17025)

SAMPLE DNA EXTRACTION

POSITIVE

GM IDENTIFICATION

GM SCREENING

GM QUANTIFICATION

GMO Detection in Malaysia

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DNA technique:

• DNA Extraction – e.g. Wizard, MagNa Pure,

Qiagen

• GMO screening using DNA (e.g. to detect

common targets such as 35S) & protein

techniques (dipstick)

• GMO Identification – using conventional PCR and

real-time PCR technique, e.g. Roundup Ready

Soya

• GMO Quantification – using TaqMan chemistry to

express % GMO

ISSUES & CHALLENGES IN

MALAYSIA

TECHNICAL

• Selectable marker>50

types

• Gene of interest

• Marker free GM

varieties

• Stacked events

FINANCIAL

• Instruments

• Consumables

• Reagents

• Certified Reference

Materials

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New area of testing

- Unavailability of certain reference materials

- Sequences not disclosed

- Gene stacks in GMO are very difficult to analyze (have to test each grain, currently not possible to analyze processed food products)

- Only few methods have been “fully validated’, but the number is slowly increasing

- Highly processed foods –problem 8

- Unavailability of certain reference

materials, GMO detection limited to

available protocol and certified reference

material

- related to religious issues e.g detection

of swine gene in food

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How to overcome

• Blue Ocean Strategy

oNo redundancy

o Sharing outsources

o Knowledge transfer

• New Initiative for 2017

oMyGMO@kimia as one-stop-

centre for NRL management and

monitoring

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GMO RESEARCH IN MALAYSIA

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•GMO research is actively being done

at public and private research

institutes & universities

•GMO research is ongoing for food

products as well as non food

organisms (virus, bacteria, zebrafish,

mosquitoes, algae, yeast etc.)

GMO ANALYSIS AT

ASEAN LEVEL(ASEAN GMF Net)

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The main objectives of ASEAN GMF-Net are

as follows:

1.To ensure harmonization in detection of GMF

and improve competencies among scientists

and regulators in AMSs.

2.To provide sharing of knowledge and

experiences in the implementation of relevant

legislations pertaining to GMFs at the regional

level.

3.To provide training in detection of GMF for all

AMSs.

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Justification

ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Testing Network (ASEAN GMF Net) is an important platform to promote ASEAN cooperation in GM technology particularly in the area of GMO testing.

Since the number of new GM crops imported into the ASEAN GMF Net countries has increased dramatically, the ASEAN cooperation on GMO testing need to be further strengthened at the regional level.

All ASEAN Member Countries (AMCs) has to leverage on each other’s resources, knowledge and expertise in GM technology to promote food safety in the region.

This ASEAN GMF net was established in 2006 14

Most of the AMCs (ASEAN Member Countries) have established or are in the process of formulating their own Biosafety Laws to control importation, release and exportation of GMO and products thereof.

Malaysia has gazetted its Biosafety Act since August 2007. Therefore, there is a vital need to test the presence of GMO in shipments in order to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements of these AMCs and importing countries.

Recently Malaysia also has gazetted its labelling act for GM Food product since 2014.

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In 2016-2020, ASEAN GMF Net will focus on the following activities:

(i) Drafting of Harmonized Regulatory Framework for GM Food;

(ii) Drafting of Harmonized GMO Detection Approach and Methodology;

(iii) Updating the information on modern biotechnology development and its impact on agriculture, food and forestry products and

(iv) Continue to enhance AMS’s GMO testing capabilities through training and collaboration within ASEAN and with other international or regional organizations

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Overview EU-ASEAN Cooperation on GMO Analysis

Summary

Formalization of the EU-ASEAN Cooperation in GMO Analysis

Future Regional Network Meeting

International Workshop on GMO Analysis Networking

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Formalization of the EU-ASEAN

Cooperation in GMO Analysis

Dec. 6th 2012, ASEC proposed mechanism for

the Formalization of the EU-ASEAN Technical

Cooperation on GMO Analysis i.e. through

Exchange of Letters.

Singapore has been following up with EU on this

matter

8th ASEAN GMFT Net MeetingSingapore, June 9-10, 2011

EC-JRC Proposal

-Networking, -Proficiency Testing,

-Plasmid Control Samples, -Global GMO Matrix

-formalization through collaboration MoU

Broadening collaboration

Broadening collaboration

The 8th ASEAN GMFT Net meeting -Endorsed the ASEAN-EU cooperation on

technical GMO analysis,-Agreed to formalise this Technical

Cooperation with EU.

Oct. 4th 2011, Jakarta, SOM* – 33rd AMAFMeeting

-Support the technical cooperation-Requested the ASEAN GMF Net to explore

mechanisms for the expedient conclusion of a formal collaborative

*Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry

Formalization of the EU-ASEAN

Cooperation in GMO Analysis

Indication from EC side to Singapore / ASEAN GMFTNet:

For ASEAN GMF Network to consider which level of representation is

proposed by ASEC for the exchange of letters ?

Request for ASEC to provide more information on how to proceed ?

EC also proposed a new option of a horizontal

"scientific and technical cooperation" document between

JRC and ASEAN, in which GMO analysis will be highlighted as

one specific area for cooperation

For ASEAN to consider whether this is feasible and what other areas

besides GMO analysis will be included?

Or ASEAN to prefer to focus on GMO Analysis for specific cooperation?

Request ASEAN to make a proposal to EC. To also include as part of the

Proposal the expected timelines

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Challenges in ASEAN for GMO Analysis

Lab capabilities is not at the same level

(Brunei, Mymar and Laos DPR has no proper lab for GMO analysis) Funding is limited in certain ASEAN country New GM crops imported into the ASEAN GMF Net countries has increased dramatically Lack of Public and Government awareness Harmonization in ASEAN country is not fully taking place yetInternational Networking is necessary

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