Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 in the European Union demands the labelling of food and feed products consisting of or containing "more than 0.9 % genetically modified organisms" (GMOs). This is the labelling threshold level for food and feed consisting of GMOs that are being placed on the market in the European Community in accordance with the Community procedure. Consequently, certified reference materials are required for the quality control of GMO measurements carried out by GMO testing laboratories.
Dow AgroSciences (DAS, Oxon, UK) has developed the genetically modified (GM) soya event DAS-68416-4 and has asked the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM, Geel, BE) to produce a reference material for the quantification of DAS-68416-4 soya. The event DAS-68416-4 expresses the AAD-12 and PAT proteins in soya, derived from Delftia acidovorans and Streptomyces viridochromogenes, providing tolerance to application of aryloxyalkanoate herbicides (such as 2,4-D) and glufosinate-ammonium, respectively.
The series of GMO matrix reference materials for the soya event DAS-68416-4 (ERM-BF432) consists of four different mass fractions levels of DAS-68416-4 soya with nominal values of 0; 5; 10 and 100 g/kg. ERM-BF432 was prepared according to ISO Guides 34 by mixing gravimetrically dried GM and non-GM soya powder produced from seeds. The resulting GM percentages were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis after DNA extraction from the powders. The preparation and certification of ERM-BF432a, ERM-BF432b, ERM-BF432c and ERM-BF432d is described in detail in the certification report.
Link to certification report