‘Golden Rice’ secures regulatory approvals

Golden Rice variety is expected to reach consumers soon after three food regulators overseas found - Institute national Rice Research (IRRI) said.

According to IRRI Director General Matthew Morell, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and Health Canada have validated Golden Rice’s safety and nutritional value.

They did so according to globally accepted food safety guidelines developed by the United Nations’ World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (FAO); the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

“Each regulatory application that Golden Rice completes with national regulatory agencies takes us one step closer [in] bringing Golden Rice to people who need it the most,” Morell said.

“The rigorous safety standards observed by the US FDA and other agencies provide a model for decision-making in all countries wishing to reap the benefits of Golden Rice,” he added.

Once Golden Rice receives all the necessary approvals, a sustainable deployment program will ensure that it is acceptable and accessible to the estimated 250 million preschool- age children

the Los Baños, Laguna-based said.

Because rice is already widely grown and eaten, bio- fortified rice varieties like Golden Rice can easily provide 30 percent- to- 50 percent of women and children’s estimated average requirement for the vitamin.

WHO estimates that children

institute a large number of pregnant and lactating women have VAD.

prevalent in South and Southeast Asia.

In the Philippines, high-yielding inbred local rice varieties with the beta- carotene producing GR2E Golden Rice trait is being developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

According to Dr. Reynante Ordonio, Healthier Rice Project leader at PhilRice, Golden Rice has great potential in improving Filipinos’ nutrition.

“While current interventions, such as proper feeding practices and supplementation, have” been successful in improving our people’s nutrition, “millions continue to suffer from these preventable

- donio said.

“Food-based approaches, like Golden Rice, can help improve nutrition for those who have limited access to diverse diets,” he added.

Golden Rice in the Philippines

food, feed, and processing applications, according to him.

“Our research is fully compliant with the country’s stringent regulatory procedures, and we are very optimistic that our application will be approved,” Ordonio said.

“Regulatory approval is a necessary step in the research process, as it enables us to continue research to ensure that Golden Rice is safe

Dr. Russell Reinke, Healthier Rice program lead at IRRI, said regulatory applications were necessary in research and development.

“Regulatory approval enables organizations, such as IRRI, to conduct further trials and nutrition assessments that can assure the public that our healthier rice varieties meet their needs.”