Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of concentrated liquid l-lysine, l-lysine monohydrochloride and concentrated liquid l-lysine monohydrochloride produced by NITE BP-02917 for all animal species (Metex NoovistaGo).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid l-lysine, l-lysine monohydrochloride and concentrated liquid l-lysine monohydrochloride produced by NITE BP-02917 as nutritional and as sensory (flavouring compound) feed additives for all animal species. The production strain did not carry ■■■■■ antimicrobial resistance genes and no viable cells of the production strain were detected in the final products. ■■■■■ However, since no sequences of concern remained in the production strain, the potential presence of that DNA did not raise safety concerns.

Points to consider in seeking biosafety approval for research, testing, and environmental release of experimental genetically modified biocontrol products during research and development.

Novel genetically modified biological control products (referred to as "GM biocontrol products") are being considered to address a range of complex problems in public health, conservation, and agriculture, including preventing the transmission of vector-borne parasitic and viral diseases as well as the spread of invasive plant and animal species. These interventions involve release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment, sometimes with intentional dissemination of the modification within the local population of the targeted species, which presents new challenges and opportunities for regulatory review and decision-making. Practices developed for GMOs, primarily applied to date for GM crops may need to be adapted to accommodate different types of organisms, such as insects, and different technologies, such as gene drive.

Gene drive in species complexes: defining target organisms.

Engineered gene drives, which bias their own inheritance to increase in frequency in target populations, are being developed to control mosquito malaria vectors. Such mosquitoes can belong to complexes of both vector and nonvector species that can produce fertile interspecific hybrids, making vertical gene drive transfer (VGDT) to sibling species biologically plausible. While VGDT to other vectors could positively impact human health protection goals, VGDT to nonvectors might challenge biodiversity ones.

Recommendations for environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications for malaria vector control.

Building on an exercise that identified potential harms from simulated investigational releases of a population suppression gene drive for malaria vector control, a series of online workshops identified nine recommendations to advance future environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications.