Status and Risk Assessment of the Use of Transgenic Arthropods in Plant Protection

New technologies, such as genetic engineering, may offer possibilities to increase the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique (SIT) for the control of insect pests. Although the basic technology for transformation is now quite effective for many insect species, the complex issues related to their release remain unclear. This is a pertinent consideration, given the current public perception of transgenic technology in general. In order to try to initiate the development of a responsible regulatory framework for any eventual release of transgenic insects, the FAO, IAEA and IPPC convened a consultants meeting in Rome during 2002. The consultants reviewed the current status of insect transgenesis, identified current technical constraints and developed draft risk assessment protocols. This publication summarizes the deliberations of the group and provides full texts of the working papers.