**10. Bio-safety assessments of genetically modified food**

Biosafety refers to the safe management of living organisms and genetic material, including pathogens and genetically modified organisms. Under international environmental law and policy, biosafety refers to the need to protect the environment and human health from the possible adverse effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products resulting from modern biotechnology. Currently, at the core of the international regime on biosafety is the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Now a days dozens of genetically modified (GM) food crops and animals have been developed and commercialized in different countries. That's why several biosafety concerns like- risk to human health, risk to environment, ecological concern has been raised after the rapid commercialization of GM crops every year across the world. So strict biosafety guideline must be followed before introducing a GM crop into the market. According to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) take appropriate measures to regulate, manage or control the risks that may arise due to use and handling of living modified organisms (LMOs) that may pose some threats to biological and to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of LMOs. Different countries and organizations developed their own biosafety guidelines for safety assessment of genetically modified foods. The safety assessment is undertaken in accordance with internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed through the work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Risk assessment must be completed on the basis of scientific evidence to identify and evaluate the possible impacts of GMO on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as well as risks to human health [74]. Risk assessment identifies potential hazards and/or adverse impacts of GM crops or derived product on non-target organisms and/or environment. This involves a number of coordinated steps like risk identification, risk characterization and risk categorization. Risk management involves strategic techniques to reduce the adverse effect of GM crops and associated products on non-target species or environment and also to reduce the chances of development of resistance in target pest population [75]. Risk management is a follow-up to the implementation of a risk assessment that includes the establishment of appropriate mechanisms, steps, and strategies for managing and controlling the risks identified in the risk assessment. The obligation arising from the application of risk management to these parties is to establish and implement a regulatory system with sufficient capacity to manage and control these risks. Regulation of GMO handling, transport, packaging, and utilization is part of efforts to ensure the safety of GMO development in accordance with the requirements of relevant international standards. In case of USA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health [76]. Safety assessment of GM foods should be carried out on a case-by-case basis comparing the properties of new food with those of conventional counterpart.
