Genetically modified cotton

The ISO IWA 32:2019 testing standard for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in cotton and textiles

Feb 2021. The global distribution of genetically modified crops makes it necessary to include GMOs in risk management. Eurofins' portfolio includes comprehensive screening analysis as well as identification and quantification methods based on the latest international standards such as ISO IWA 32:2019. Eurofins recently demonstrated the accuracy of its GM cotton analytics in the first proficiency test of its kind.

The global planting situation of GM cotton and its importance for food production

Cotton is primarily used for the production of textiles and to a smaller extent processed for food and feed use. Nevertheless, contaminations with GM cotton are a relevant risk also for food and feed raw materials when these originate from countries where GM cotton is largely cultivated (e.g. India, USA, and China). Currently, more than 25 GM cotton varieties are known and only nine of these are approved for use in food and feed in the EU.

GM cotton has been grown worldwide for more than 20 years. In 2019, GM cotton was produced in 18 countries on a total of 25.7 million hectares. This accounted for 79% of the global cotton cultivation area in 2019.

Rising demand for GMO-free cotton

While a large extent of the globally cultivated cotton is genetically modified, the market demand for textiles produced from non-GM cotton is growing. In particular, organic cotton certified according to international standards (e.g. GOTS), which do not admit the use of GM cotton, is increasingly requested.

In 2019, the need for reliable testing methods for the detection of GM cotton along the textiles production chain led to the elaboration of a widely accepted method described in the ISO IWA 32: 2019 norm. The aim was to provide a uniform guide to assess in a standardised way whether cotton, cotton fibres and/or cotton-derived materials are produced from or contain materials derived from genetically modified (GM) cotton plants.

We test the proficiency of our methods for you

To ensure the quality of the laboratory analyses, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) organisations, in collaboration with Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), have recently organised the first proficiency test (PT 2020-08) for the detection of GM cotton according to ISO IWA 32:2019. Eight different samples with different levels of GM cotton were provided by the organisers. Eurofins GeneScan demonstrated an "optimal performance" in this proficiency test by detecting all relevant DNA sequences.

From screening to quantification - optimal GMO monitoring

With its competence centre for GMO analysis, Eurofins has been offering reliable test methods for the detection of GM cotton in raw materials as well as in processed products for more than 25 years now. Our expert Ulf Rathjens will be glad to answer your questions about the current legal situation and can recommend appropriate analytical strategies for your products.