Knowledge base for the assessment of environmental risks by the use of genetically modified virus-vectored vaccines for domesticated animals. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Microbial Ecology of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

Abstract

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) was requested by the Norwegian Environment Agency in November 2015 to develop a knowledge base for assessment of the environmental risks related to the use of genetically modified (GM) virus vaccine vectors for vaccination of domesticated animals. The Agency requested that the task be conducted in the form of a desk study with the following mandate: (1) to provide a short description of GM virus vectors in use in veterinary vaccines; (2) summarize available information relevant to environmental risk assessment (ERA) of GM veterinary virus vaccines; and (3) identify environmental risk factors and knowledge gaps of relevance to ERA of GM virus vaccines within the Norwegian context. This report provides background for future environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products containing or consisting of GMO for use in Norway.<p> <p>VKM has appointed a working group consisting of members of the Panel on Microbial Ecology and the VKM secretariat to answer the request. The VKM Panel has reviewed and revised the draft prepared by the working group and finally approved the opinion.<p> <p>This Report contains the findings of a desk study of current virus vectors used in GM virus vectored vaccines of domesticated livestock. A survey of the published literature for current knowledge in the area was undertaken with the aim of providing information relevant to the ERA of veterinary GM virus vectors (GM-VV). In identifying potential risk factors associated with vaccination of domesticated animals using GM-VV, focus was on the Norwegian environment, but relevant parallels were drawn from other European countries.<p>