GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO) 
  
  
  
  
  
Final Draft  
  
  
GSO5/ FDS …./2010  
  
  
  
  
وراﺛﻴﺎَ  اﻟﻤﺤﻮرة  اﻟﻤﺼﻨﻌﺔ  ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﺰراﻋﻴﺔ  ﻟﻠﻤﻨﺘﺠﺎت  اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ  اﻟﻤﺘﻄﻠﺒﺎت  
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FO R GENETICALLY MODIFIED            
UNPROCESSED AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS  
 
  
    
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
Prepared by: 
 
Gulf technical committee for standards of food and agriculture products 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
This document is a draft Gulf  standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, 
subject to change, and may not be referre d it as a Gulf standard, until approved by 
the Board of Directors.  .   Foreword  
  
 
  
Standardization Organization for G CC (GSO) is a regional Organization 
which consists of the National Standard s Bodies of GCC me mber States. One 
of GSO main functions is to issue Gulf Standards /Technical regulation 
through specialized technical committees (TCs). 
 
GSO through the technical progra m of committee TC No 5  "  The Gulf 
Technical Committee for Food and Ag ricultural Standards Products" has 
prepared this Standard .  The Draf t Standard has been prepared by ( KINGDOM 
OF SAUDI ARABIA      ) 
 
 The draft Standard has been prepared based on re levant ADMO, International 
and National foreign Sta ndards and references. 
 
This standard has been approved as Gu lf (Standard / Technical Regulation)   
by GSO Board of Directors in its meeting No..../....  …….held on    /    /   /  H 
,  /    /   G GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 1  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FO R GENETICALLY MODIFIED 
 UNPROCESSED AGRICU LTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
 1.              SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION 
    This GSO is concerned with general requirements for unprocessed agricultural 
products obtained through certain techniques of  genetic modification and        
unprocessed agricultural products that c ontain or produced from genetically 
modified organism (GMO) if the GMO present is higher than 
1 %. 
 
2.               COMPLEMENTARY REQUIREMETNS 
2.1     GSO 9 (labelling of prepackaged foodstuffs). 
2.2    GSO 323 (general requirements for tr ansportation and  storage of chilled and 
frozen  foods) 
2/3  GSO 382  (Maximum Limits for Pesticide Residues in Agriculture and Food 
Products, Part 1). 
2/4   GSO 383  (Maximum Limits for Pesticide Residues in Agriculture and Food 
Products , Part 2) . 
2/5  GSO 168 (Requirements of Storage Facilities for Dry and Canned Food Stuffs). 
2/6    GSO 839  ( Food Packages, part 1, General requirements). 
2/7   GSO 841 ( Maximum Limits of Mycotoxi ns permitted in Foods and animal     
Feeds- Aflatoxins ). 
2/8   GSO 1859 (Food Packages- Part 2: Plastic Packages , General requirements). 2/9  GSO 988 ( limits of radiactivity Levels Permitted in Foodstuffs-part 1). 2/10    GSO 1016 ( microbiological criteria for foodstuffs –part 1) 2/11  GSO ISO21572 (Foodstuffs - Methods for the detection of genetically modified 
organisms and derived products - Protein based methods) 
2/12  GSO ISO21571 (Foodstuffs - Methods of analysis for the detection of        
genetically modified organisms and derived products - Nucleic acid extraction) 
 GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 2 2/13  GSO ISO21569 (Foodstuffs -- Methods of analysis for the detection of 
genetically modified organisms and de rived products -- Qualitative nucleic acid 
based methods) 
2/14  GSO ISO21570 (Foodstuffs -- Methods of analysis for the detection of 
genetically modified organisms and derived products -- Quantitative nucleic acid based methods) 
2/15  GSO ....... ( methods of analysis for detection of genetically modified   
organisms and drived products- sampling). 
2/16  GSO ....... ( general requirements for risk assessment and   Traceability of 
genetically modified   products). 
2/17  GSO .......( General Requirements For Proce ssed Genetically Modified         
Food and Feed) 
 
3.  DEFINITIONS 
3/1             UNPROCESSED AGRICALTRAL PRODUCTS: 
 Means the products of the agricultural or igin, animals, birds and of fisheries 
and first-stage processing directly related to these products such as grain seed and fruit.  
3/2              LIVING ORGANISM:   Mean any biological entity capable of transferring genetic material, including 
sterile organisms, viruses and viroids. 
 3/3             GENETICALLY  MODIFIED / ENGINEERED ORGANISM:  
 Means an organism in which the genetic material has been changed through 
modern biotechnology in a way that doe s not occur naturally by multiplication 
and /or natural recombination. 
3/4           GENETICALLY MODIFIED  UN PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL          
PRODUCTS: 
 Means genetically modified agricultural products which it could be consumed 
directly as a human being food (such as maize), animal feed (such as soybean)  
or agricultural planting (such as seed).   
 GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 3 4.     REQUIREMENTS :  
  
 Without prejudice of what stated in GS O Standard  mentioned in item 2.1, and 
the requirements  stated in the GSO Standard for each product. The following 
requirements shall be met: 
 
4.1  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 
 The following requirements shall be met in  genetically modified un processed  
agricultural products: 
4.1.1  Be compatible with the ethical regulation applied in the imported country. 
4.1.2  It should  not be oppose with a polities of the national authorities on agricultral 
by the operation of the importation or the export or the passing or the sale or 
the production or the increase or th e intentional introduction into the 
environment. 
4.1.3  Have no diverse effects on human health , animal health, plant health   or the 
environment. 
4.1.4   Each consignment shall  studied case by case. 
4.1.5  Each Imported consignment should have  a credible documentations endorsed 
by the embassy imported country  or who act   in behalf of it the country it was 
prouduced includes the following: 
4.1.5.1   The consignment contain genetically modified products. 
4.1.5.2   Name, address and contact details of the exporter. 
4.1.5.3   Name, address and contact details of the importer. 
4.1.5.4   Name,and identity of the living modified organism. 
4.1.5.5   Approved uses of the agricultural product. 
4.1.5.6   Quantity or volume of the consignment. 
4.1.5.7   Methods for the safe handling, storge, transport and use, including packaging 
and labelling. 
4.1.5.8   Disposal and contingency procedures where appropriate. 
4.1.5.9        Traceability and risk assessment should be according to item 2.16. 
4.1.5.10    The product must be accombined with a ceritificate proving that it is allowed to 
be consumed in the country it was produced. GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 4 4.1.5  For the processed genetically modified  food and Feed should be according to 
item 2.17. 
4.1.6  It is prohibited to import any genetically  modified animals, birds , fishes and 
their products . 
 
 
4.2 LABELLING REQUIREMENTS :  
 
 Without prejudice of what stated in GSO standard mentioned in item 2/1, the 
following requirements shall be clearly identified on the label for genetically modified un processed agricaltral products: 
4.2.1 The words ( genetically modified  or  contains genetically modified, or 
produced from genetically modified orga nism) shall appear clearly and easily 
to be read in appropriate position with diffiernt colour on the label.  
4.2.2 If the product consists of more than one  ingredient , the words (genetically   
modified) or ( produced from genetically  modified, name of the ingredient ) 
shall appear in the list of ingredients in parentheses immediately following the 
ingredient concerned . 
4.2.3 If the product is offered for sale to the final consumer as non-pre-packaged 
product or as prepackaged product in small or large should be according to items 4.2.1, 4.2.2. 
4.2.4 If the unprocessed agricaltral products  are diffrent from its conventional 
counterpart, the labelling shall mention any characteristic or property concerning the following :
 
-   Composition. -   Physical characteristic (colure, taste, odour, and the touch)  -   Nutritional value or nutritional effects. -   Intended use
 of product. 
-   Any implication on a certain group of  people. -   Any implication on a certain animals. -   Any implication on the environment
. 
-   Methods for the safe handling, storge, transport and use . 
 GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 5 4.3  SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GM UNPROCESSED 
AGRICULTURAL FOR HUM AN BEING FOODS:  
 
  The following requirements sha ll be required for GM unprocessed 
agricultural human foods: 
4.3.1  It should not be different  from the producer who will shift into his place as 
many which his regular consumption harmful for the human nutriment. 
4.3.2   Products that are being sold in the market by wei ght, number or volume, should               
be kept in separate places and isolat ed from the conventional products. The 
product should have a clearly defined and difficult to eliminate label printed a 
card, placed on a suitable place of the speci fied food or along its side, stating 
that “this product is genetically modifi ed using biotechnology" It should not to 
be use for agricultural or any kind of plant propagation. 
4.3.3  It should not be used for agricultural purpose or any kind of plant propagation. 
4.3.4  It should comply with the GSO  traceab ility and risk assessment according to 
item 2.16. 
4.3.5   Pesticides residues should be according to the limits in item 2/3 and 2/4. 
4.3.6  Aflatoxines residues should be according to the limits in item 2/7. 
4.3.7  Radiation levels should be according to the limits in item 2/9. 
4.3.8  Microbiological levels should be according to the limits in item 2/10. 
 
4.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GM UNPROCESSED 
AGRICULTURAL FOR FEED: 
 
 The following requirements shall be re quired for GM un processed agricultural 
for feed: 
4.4.1  It is prohibited to be used in human food or agricultural purpose or any kind of 
plant propagation. 
4.4.2  It should be placed on the market in separate places and isolated from the 
conventional product The product should have  a clearly defined and difficult to 
eliminate label printed a card, placed on a suitable place of the specified feed or along its side, stating that place of the sp ecified feed or along its side, stating 
that  “this product is genetically modified using biotechnology” . 
4.4.3  The label should also state that “this product is not for human consumption or 
agricultural use.”. 
4.4.4   It should compliance with the GSO traceability and risk assessment according 
to item 2.16. 
4.4.5  Aflatoxines residues should be according to the limits in item 2/8. 
 GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 6 4.5  SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GM UNPROCESSED 
AGRICULTURAL FOR AGRICULTURAL PLANTING: 
 The following requirements shall be requi red for GM un processed agricultural 
for agricultural planting: 
4.5.1  The importation's operation should be not  to oppose one another (like the seeds 
and the other seed and the sapling) with a polities of competent authorities in the imported state especially the plant di sease, harmful weeds, narcotic plants, 
and germination percentage , purity and the humidity percentage. 
4.5.2  The party of export or the exporter  should notify ,in writing, the competent 
national authority of the party of  impor t state prior to the import operation, and 
the importation's operation should not be done prior the written agreement from 
the competent national authorities in the imported state. 
4.5.3  The written notification should contains the following information: 
a)      The quantity or the volume of the consignment. b)     Intended date for the import. 
4.5.4  The consignment should be companied with the origin advance agreement on 
the importation which each consignment of the GM un processed agricultural product for agricultural for customs release. 
4.5.5  The advance agreement is valid for one time utilization. 
4.5.6  The advance agreement should be i ssued at least 10 days before the 
consignment arrival/ 
4.5.7  All chemicals and their concentrati ons, which these products were treated, 
should be mentioned. 
4.5.8  Seeds, which it will be used for agri cultural or plant propagation, should be 
treated with different colour for easy differentiation from the conventional counterpart.  
4.5.9  The  final user should  present a gua rantee that GM agricultural products will 
not  mix with the non GM seeds and other seeds agricultural produces. 
4.5.10   The final user adheres with agricultural planting land surveyor and guarantee 
not to be mixed with non GM. 
4.5.11   The final user adheres with an autonomic harvesting. 
4.5.12 If the GM unprocessed agricultural pr oduct for agricultural does not have a 
conventional counterpart, the labelling or the accompanying documents shall 
contain appropriat information about th e  nature and the characteristics 
concerned. 
4.5.13 The product must have a clearly written, easily read and difficult to remove 
label stating that
 the product is for agricultural use and not for human and 
animal consumption.. GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 7 4.5.14   A manner for the safe handling, storge, transport and use. 
4.5.15   It should compliance with the GSO tr aceability and risk assessment for the GM 
unprocessed agricultural for agricultural use according to item 2.16 
 
5.  SAMPLING :  
     Samples shall be taken according to GSO 2.15 and the  sampling stated in the 
GSO Standard for each product. 
 
6.  METHODS OF ANALYSES :  
     Analyses of samples which ar e taken according to item 5 shall be done 
according to the methods in GSO 2.11 ,2.12, 2.13,2.14 
 
7.  PACKAGING :  
       Without prejudice of GSO in item 2.6 , 2.7 and the  packaging stated in the GSO 
Standard for each product, The  product shall be packed in suitable , clean ,sufficiently strong package which is  not used previously and have no 
contaminating  effect on the product or its quality .     
8.  STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION : 
 Without prejudice to requirements in ite m 2.2 , 2.5 and what stated in the GSO 
Gulf Standard for each product, the produc t shall be stored in a store wich 
protect it from insects ,rodents and  humidity and high temperature. The 
product shall be transported in a suitable way to protect its quality .  
 
 
 
        GSO STANDARD  GSO ...... / 2010
 
 8 References: 
 
 
–  Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the Euro pean Parliament and of the Council of 
September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed  
 –  Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the Euro pean Parliament and of the Council of 
September 2003 concerning the traceability a nd labelling of genetically modified 
organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically 
modified organisms and am ending Directive 2001/18/EC 
– 
 GM foods: safety assessment of genetically m odified foos.2005-Food standards Australia New 
Zealand 
 
–  Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity 
 
–  Regulate the entry of genetically modi fied organisms, 2005 - National Committee on 
Biosafety - King Abdulaziz City fo r Science and Technology (KACST)  - Saudi 
Arabia