THE SAFE AND RATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS GENES IN CROP PLANTS - CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF OECD WORKSHOP ON ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF TRANSGENIC CROPS CONTAINING BT TOXIN GENES

This workshop focused on the ecological implications of transgenic cro ps containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes. An important objectiv e was to derive conclusions and recommendations concerning the safe an d rational deployment of Bt genes in crop plants. There were extensive general discussions during the workshop, and a structured round table discussion with all workshop participants on the final day. The topic s for the round table were (i) the conditions that make a crop suitabl e or unsuitable for Bt gene deployment, (ii) the ecological research n eeded to improve decisions on Bt gene deployment, (iii) the value of p romoters and toxin. mixtures in resistance management, (iv) the essent ial components of environmental impact assessments, (v) the need to co ntrol imports of crops containing Bt genes and (vi) for New Zealand an d Australia, the need for national plans to conserve efficacy of Bt to xins. We have summarized the outcome of these discussions in the follo wing conclusions and recommendations, taken from the written records o f the round table. These records were circulated to all participants a fter the workshop for comment and correction. However, we do not claim that the following conclusions and recommendations are the consensus view of all the participants.