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Plants > Biotechnology / PNTs > Notices of Submission 

Notice of Submission for Approval of Novel Food, Livestock Feed and Environmental Safety Approval for Commercial Planting Purposes of a Corn Line Genetically Modified For Insect Resistance and Herbicide Tolerance from Monsanto Canada Inc.

Date Posted: July 9th, 2004

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To provide comments on this submission, please use the feedback form.

Background

The CFIA and Health Canada have received a submission from Monsanto Canada Inc. seeking an approval for environmental safety approval for commercial planting purposes and livestock feed and food use of a corn line designated as MON 88017, which has been genetically modified for insect resistance and glyphosate herbicide tolerance. The submission received is in accordance with CFIA guidelines for assessment of plants with novel traits (PNTs) for unconfined release, CFIA guidelines for assessment of novel feeds from PNTs, and HC guidelines for assessment of novel foods. To view information related to the environmental assessment of a plant with novel trait (PNT) or a novel feed derived from PNTs, please refer to the CFIA Web site. To view the information related to the health and safety assessment of a novel food, please refer to the Health Canada Web site.

Summary of the Submission Package

Updated scientific information may be added to this submission by the developer at a later date, or CFIA and/or Health Canada may request further information from the developer.

Description of the host plant Please refer to Regulatory Directive Dir94-11; The Biology of Zea mays  L. (Corn/Maize).  http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/bio/dir/dir9411e.shtml
Description of the Modification The PNT was developed through recombinant DNA technology. In order to assess the modification process the following has been submitted:
  • Characterization of the transformation system/modification process
  • Description of the transformation method
  • Nature and source of the carrier DNA
  • Description of the genetic material delivered to the plant
  • Components of the vector
  • Summary of all genetic components
  • Description of the herbicide tolerance/insecticide resistance genes – cp4 epsps; cry3Bb1
  • Description of the promoters and terminators
  • Portion and size of the inserted sequence
  •  Location, order and orientation in the vector
  • Function of the cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 genes in the plant
  • Source of the cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 genes (donor organism – bacteria)
  • Level of expression of cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 proteins in forage
  • Review of the toxicity and pathogenic ability of the genetic components to plants and other organisms
  • Review of the toxicity and pathogenic ability of the donor organisms to plants and other organisms
  • History of use of the vector
  • Detailed map of the vector
Inheritance and Stability of the Introduced Trait In order to assess the inheritance and stability of the genetic modification the following has been submitted:
  • Analysis of stability over multiple generations
Description of the Novel Traits In order to characterize the DNA inserted in the plant, the following has been submitted:
  • Information for all coding areas
  • Information plant promoters: Southern analysis of the cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 coding regions and their promoters
  • DNA analysis for introns, terminators and enhancers of plant expressible cassettes
  • Analysis for other promoters and regions associated with bacteria expressible cassettes
  • Information on noncoding regions that have no known plant function and are not associated with expression of coding regions: DNA analysis for known function
  • Characterization of expressed cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 proteins in corn tissues
Toxicity of the Novel Gene Products The toxicity of the cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 gene expression products on nontarget species, humans and animals. The following have been previously submitted, reviewed, and published:
  • Decision Document DD95-02: Determination of Environmental Safety of Monsanto Canada Inc.’s Roundup Ready® Herbicide-Tolerant Brassica napus Canola Line GT73
  • Decision Document DD95-05: Determination of Environmental Safety of Monsanto Canada Inc.’s Glyphosate Tolerant Soybean (Glycine max L.) Line GTS 40-3-2
  • Decision Document 2002-35: Determination of Safety of Monsanto Canada Inc.’s Roundup Ready® Corn (Zea mays  L.) Line 603
  • Decision Document 2003-43: Determination of the Safety of Monsanto Canada Inc.’s Insect Resistant Corn (Zea mays  L.) Line MON 863
  • Petty, A.T., G.F. Hartnell et al. 2001. Performance of beef cattle fed Roundup Ready Corn harvested as whole plant silage or grain. J. Anim. Sci. 79(Suppl. 2):102. Abstract 321.
  • Donkin, S.S., G.F. Hartnell et al. 2000. Effect of feeding Roundup Ready Corn silage and grain on feed intake, milk production, and milk composition in lactating dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 83 (Suppl. 1): 273 Abstract 1144.
  • Hammond, B. R.L. Fuchs et al. 1996. The feeding value of soybeans fed to rats, chickens, catfish, and dairy cattle is not altered by genetic incorporation of glyphosate tolerance. J. Nutr. 126: 717-727.
  • Castillo, A.R., G.F. Hartnell et al. 2001. Effect of feeding dairy cows with cottonseeds containing Bollgard and Roundup Ready genes or control non-transgenic cottonseeds on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition. J. Dairy Sci. 84(Suppl. 1) 413. Abstract 1713.
  • Aalhus, J.L., M.E.R. Dugan, K.A. Lien, I.L. Larsen, F. Costello, D.C. Roland, D.R. Best and R.D. Thacker. 2003. Effects of feeding glyphosate-tolerant canola meal on swine growth, carcass composition and meat quality. J. Anim. Sci. 81:3267
  • Stanford, K., J.L. Aalhus, M.E.R. Dugan, G.L. Wallins, R. Sharma, T.A. McAllister. 2003. Effects of feeding transgenic canola on apparent digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. Canadian J. of Anim. Sci. 299-305
Nutritional Evaluation of the Novel Plant In order to assess nutritional aspects of the novel plant the following has been submitted:
  • The nutritional composition of the novel plant has been compared to unmodified corn. The following have been considered:
    • Proximate composition (protein, fat, ash, carbohydrates)
    • Composition of lignin, amino acids and minerals
    • Acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber
    • Micro-nutritional elements (vitamins, etc)
Allergenicity/Toxicity Considerations In order to assess allergenicity and toxicity of the novel proteins the following has been submitted:
  • Comparison of the amino acid sequence similarity of cp4 epsps and cry3Bb1 proteins expressed in MON 88017 to known protein allergens or toxins through bioinformatics analysis

The following has been previously submitted:

  • Analysis the amino acid sequence similarity of cp4 epsps or cry3Bb1 protein expressed in other crops or products to known protein allergens or toxins through bioinformatics analysis
Evaluation of the Environmental Impact of the Novel Plant In order to assess the environmental impact of the novel plant the following has been submitted:
  • Examination for potential weediness of the PNT
  • Examination of seed yield of the PNT
  • Examination of reproductive features of the PNT
  • Examination of phenotypic characteristics of the PNT
  • Examination of seed dormancy and germination of the PNT
  • Examination of the response to biotic and abiotic stressors on the PNT
  • Examination of the PNT’s potential to become a plant pest
  • Examination of gene flow from the PNT to wild relatives
  • Examination of non-target impacts of the PNT

The Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies for MON 88017 are identical to those previously submitted for MON 863 corn.

Comments will be received only via the Internet or postal mail to CFIA or Health Canada. (See addresses below.)

For more information on this product, please contact:

Monsanto Canada Inc.
130 Albert Street, Suite 1902
Ottawa, ON
(613) 234-5121

For more information on the regulatory system, please contact:

Feed Section
Animal Products Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Nepean, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
(613) 225-2342

Novel Foods Section
Food Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch
Health Canada
Tunney’s Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0L2
(613) 954-8921
Plant Biosafety Office
Plant Products Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Nepean, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
(613) 225-2342

The CFIA and Health Canada, including their employees, are not responsible for the content of this Notice of Submission as submitted by the Applicant. All Notices of Submission are the responsibility of the Applicant submitting them and the Applicant does so at its own risk. Submission of this Notice of Submission and its subsequent posting by the CFIA on its Web site does not in any way whatsoever constitute acceptance, approval or certification by the CFIA or Health Canada of the Plant with Novel Trait(s) subject of the Notice of Submission and the CFIA and Health Canada reserve all their rights under all the pertinent legislation that may be applicable. The CFIA and Health Canada in no way whatsoever waives any of their rights under any of the legislation they enforce or administer by way of the CFIA posting this Notice of Submission.

The Applicant is not obliged to provide any information. The Applicant submits information that it chooses to submit. The information that the Applicant voluntarily provides on this Notice of Submission is collected by the CFIA and Health Canada for the purpose of sharing information with the public. Personal Information will be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act, and will be stored in Personal Information Bank CFIA PPU 125. Information, including personal information, may be accessible or protected as required under the provisions of the Access to Information Act.



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