The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is taking tenders for research into GM animals for food and feed. The species focus is on swine; cattle; sheep and goats, that is to say primarily herbivores.
EFSA is planning to spend up to EUR 135,00 for desk research to evaluate existing published studies and “reliable” sources of data. However, the agency recognises that: “the available number of samples may be limited, so it may be impossible to include in the experiment enough traditionally bred animals with a history of safe use as food and feed to meet the methodological requirements described.”
In other words, there are known gaps in control group data. This makes the usefulness of trial group data a moot point. The tender document can be found here: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/gmo201201/docs/cfpefsagmo201201guide.pdf Bids close on June 15.
