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6 Laboratories for food control in Switzerland
In order to better assess the current activities, personnel structures
and technical facilities of the food control laboratories in the
Swiss federal states (cantonal laboratories) and in Liechtenstein
with regard to the molecular techniques they are applying to the
detection of GMOs in food, a brief questionnaire was sent to individual
laboratories in summer, 1996.
The laboratories of Basel and Bern indicated that they were already
engaged in developing such molecular techniques. These and another
four out of the 21 laboratories (Kantonale Laboratorien Aargau,
St. Gallen, Solothurn and Thurgau) are presently using PCR-based
methods; in some cases, PCR diagnostics are routinely employed
on a daily basis. DNA probe hybridisation is less frequently used.
In some of the laboratories not yet using the described methods,
interest was expressed in establishing molecular techniques such
as PCR in the near future. Laboratories from large retailers tend
to collaborate with experienced academic or official laboratories.
The questionnaire revealed strong interest on the part of the
surveyed laboratories to develop methods for detecting GMO-derived
foods. On the other hand, the questionnaire revealed a substantial
lack of specific information about GMOs, in particular with regard
to precise sequence information on approved genetically modified
organisms. The situation is evidently similar in Germany, according
to sources from German food control laboratories. A major stumbling
block hampering the elaboration of identification methods is the
dearth of reliable genetic information. Comprehensive databases
in this field may considerably facilitate research efforts in
this field.
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