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These documents focus on the biology of organisms (such as plants, trees or micro-organisms) or introduced novel traits.
Volume 8 of the Series contains the first biosafety 'consensus document' to deal with the biology of an insect, the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Issued by the OECD Working Group on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, the science-based consensus documents collate information for use during the regulatory risk assessment of biotechnology products, i.e. transgenic organisms (plants, animals, micro-organisms) when intended for release in the environment. Ae. aegypti mosquito is vectoring yellow fever, dengue, Zika and Chikungunya diseases in tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Biotechnological applications are developed to control the mosquito population and reduce virus transmission. The book provides information on Ae. aegypti taxonomy, morphology, life cycle, reproductive biology, genetics, ecology, interactions with other species and the environment. The mosquito effects on human and animal health, and the control strategies/specific programmes to limit its development are also summarised.
The preservation of our oceans is indispensable for addressing many of the challenges facing the planet: from food security and climate change to energy provision, and even improved medical care through advanced marine biotechnology.
Volume 7 of the Series compiles the OECD consensus documents for use in environmental risk assessment of transgenic organisms (biosafety) issued in 2016 and 2017.The first two chapters cover the biology of plant species (sorghum and tomato) and include elements of taxonomy, centres of origin, reproductive biology, genetics, outcrossing, crop production and cultivation practices, interactions with other organisms, main pests and pathogens, and biotechnological developments.The third chapter relates to Atlantic salmon, the first OECD biosafety publication to address an animal species. It describes the biology and ecology of wild salmon (including classification, life stages, reproduction, centres of origin, geographical distribution, population dynamics, interaction with other organisms) and of the farmed form (domestication, aquaculture rearing practices, biocontainment, interactions with the external environment). It also provides elements of genetics, research on genetically engineered salmon and resources for its risk assessment.
This OECD database allows regulatory officials and stakeholders to share information on products derived from the use of modern biotechnology, as well as some products with novel traits acquired by the use of conventional breeding or mutagenesis, that have been approved for commercial application in at least one country, in terms of food, feed or environmental safety.
Most OECD countries and many non-members have a system of regulatory oversight for products of modern biotechnology (genetically-engineered /transgenic organisms) which are intended for release to the environment. The OECD biosafety work programme aims to consider all types of organisms (plants, trees, animals, micro-organisms) and to promote international harmonisation.