GMAC has established a subcommittee to evaluate, advise, and make recommendations on proposed releases of agriculture-related genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Singapore, as well as on proposed releases of GMO-related health products for product registration and/or for use in clinical trials in Singapore
The terms of reference of the Subcommittee are as follows:
- To maintain and update the Singapore Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related GMOs;
- To designate the various agencies (ie. SFA, NEA, MOH, NParks) to implement the Guidelines using their existing legislation;
- To assess the risks associated with the release of GMOs and GMO-related products or recommend to GMAC to appoint an expert panel if necessary;
- To make recommendations to GMAC on the approval for release of GMOs and GMO-related products
In 1999, GMAC published the Singapore Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related GMOs to ensure the safe use of such organisms in Singapore. “Agriculture-related organisms” refers to animals (including fish and invertebrates), plants, and microorganisms used in cultivation, farming, agronomy, husbandry and horticulture or as food. In particular, GMAC works closely with regulatory agencies such as the Singapore Food Agency to ensure that GM foods commercially available in Singapore are at least as safe as their conventional counterparts.
GMAC also works with regulatory agencies such as Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to ensure the environmental safety of proposed releases of GMO-related health products in Singapore, either through product registration or for use in clinical trials. Applicants including companies and research institutions/labs are advised to submit a dossier to GMAC for review, following the EU guidelines for environmental risk assessment (i.e. Second schedule of S.I. No. 500 2003 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003). It is a regulatory requirement for applicants to submit GMAC's recommendations on environmental risk assessment for gene therapy products (including gene modified cells) as part of the dossier submission to HSA for clinical trial or product registration applications. The checklist of items required for environmental risk assesment can be found here.
The Subcommittee for the Release of GMOs and GMO-Related Products makes science-based risk assessments of proposed releases of agriculture-related GMOs and GMO-related health products. Its recommendations are forwarded to the GMAC main committee, which decides whether or not it will endorse the application. The regulatory authorities will take into account GMAC’s advice when considering the official approval of agriculture-related GMOs and GMO-related health products.
The Subcommittee consists of scientific experts as well as representatives from the regulatory authorities.
The composition of the Subcommittee is as follows:
| Name |
Role in GMAC |
Designation |
Organisation |
| A/Prof Peter Dröge |
Subcommittee Chair |
Associate Professor
Division of Molecular and Cell Biology |
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) |
| A/Prof Matthias Maiwald |
Member |
Senior Consultant
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Adjunct Associate Professor
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine |
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
National University of Singapore and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School |
| Dr Hong Yan |
Member |
Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences |
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) |
| Dr Yin Zhongchao |
Member |
Senior Principal Investigator |
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) |
| A/Prof Pan Shen Quan |
Member |
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences |
National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Asst Prof October Sessions |
Member |
Assistant Professor
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Department of Pharmacy |
National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Ms Emily Teo |
Member |
Senior Scientist
Food Safety Monitoring & Forensics Department |
National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency |
| Asst Prof Lau On Sun |
Member |
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences |
National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Dr Chng You Rong |
Member |
Senior Scientist
Veterinary Microbiology
Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) |
National Parks Board (NParks) |
| A/Prof Justin Chu |
Member |
Assistant Professor
Laboratory of Molecular RNA, Virology and Antiviral Strategies
Department of Microbiology and Immunology |
National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Prof Lee Kok Onn |
Member |
Professor & Director
Emerging Infectious Disease Programme |
National University Hospital (NUH) |
| Asst Prof Ooi Yaw Shin |
Member |
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Virology
Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme |
Duke-NUS Medical School |
| A/Prof He Jianzhong |
Member |
Associate Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Prof Stefan Wuertz |
Member |
Professor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) |
| Dr Ng Siew Bee |
Member |
Senior Principal Investigator
Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) |
Agency for Science and Technolocy (A*STAR) |
For more information on the work of the Subcommittee, please see:
Various Agencies, 6 Nov 2008
Multi-Agency Circular on Biosafety Guidelines for Research, Release and Importation of GMOs
The Straits Times, 25 Mar 2008
All Food Here, Including GM Food, Safe to Eat: AVA
The Business Times, 8 Mar 2008
Guardian of Singapore's Food Supply
The Straits Times, 21 Jun 2006
GM Food Facts
The Straits Times, 21 Jun 2006
Test-Tube Foods Still a Hot Potato
The Straits Times, 9 Jun 2004
GM Food Here Tested for Safety
GMAC, 20 Aug 1999
Singapore Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related GMOs |
