东盟转基因食品的潜在健康风险和研究监管格局

Policy Brief Potential Health Risks and theResearch–Regulatory Landscape of Achmad Solikhin, Afifah Patriani, Wuri Wulandari,and Manami Uechi Key Messages: •Geneticallymodified food(GMF)continues to attract policy attentioninASEAN due to its potentialcontributionto food security andnutrition,alongsidepersistent Advancesin agricultural biotechnology have accelerated thedevelopment and diffusion of genetically modified food (GMF) globally,including in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). GMFhas been promoted for its potential to enhance food security throughimproved yields, resilience to pests and climate stress, and nutritionalenhancement. At the same time, it continues to raise public and policy •ASEAN Member States have madetangibleprogress in establishingGMFregulatoryframeworks,particularly for safety assessment, This Policy Brief reviews the current research and regulatory landscapeof GMF in ASEAN to establish a regional baseline that can informfuture policymaking. It finds that ASEAN Member States have madenotable progress in developing regulatory frameworks governingGMF safety assessment, importation, monitoring, and labelling, oftenaligned with international standards. However, scientific evidence •DomesticresearchinASEANdirectlyexaminingGMF-relatedhealth outcomes remains limited,especiallylong-termanimal,clinical,andcohortstudies, The analysis highlights a growing imbalance between regulatoryadvancement and domestic scientific capacity, which may underminepublic confidence and constrain effective risk communication. TheBrief argues that ASEAN would benefit from consolidating baselinedata on research and regulatory readiness, strengthening cross- •Strongerregionalcoordination,includingthrough a One Health-orientedframework,could helpharmoniseregulatorypractices,strengthen scientific capacity, and Introduction: GMF and ASEAN’s Food System Challenges ASEAN faces increasing pressure to ensure food security amid populationgrowth, urbanisation, climate change, and persistent malnutrition. With apopulation exceeding 670 million, the region must expand food availabilitywhileimproving nutritional outcomes and reducing environmentaldegradation (ASEANStats, 2025). These challenges have renewed interest Achmad SolikhinHealthcare Policy Program Manager,ERIA Afifah PatrianiProject Coordinator, ERIA Wuri WulandariResearch Assistant, ERIA Genetically modified food has emerged as one such option. By introducingspecific traits – such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, droughttolerance, or enhanced nutritional profiles – GMF has the potential tocontribute to food system efficiency and stability (Adeyeye and Idowu-Adebayo, 2019). Globally, GMF is widely traded and embedded in supplychains, often as inputs into processed foods rather than as visibly labelled Manami UechiDirector of Healthcare Unit, ERIA Despite these potential benefits, GMF remains a contestedissuein ASEAN.Public concerns persist regardingpossiblehealth effects,environmental risks,ethicalconsiderations, and the socio-economic consequences Research Landscape: Progress with PersistentGaps ofbiotechnology adoption(Bawa and Anilakumar,2012). These concerns are shaped by diverse nationalcontexts, regulatory capacities, and public perceptionsacross ASEAN Member States. Against this backdrop, aclear understanding of ASEAN’s existing research andregulatory landscape is essential for developing coherentand credible GMF governance.ASEAN’s scientific engagement with GMF has expandedoverthe past decade,reflecting broader growthinresearch capacity and interest in food systemsinnovation.Academic publications originating fromASEANinstitutions have increased,particularly incountries with stronger research infrastructure suchas Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines (Figure 1).Public universities and government-affiliated researchinstitutes play a central role, often supported by domesticresearch funding and international collaboration. The thematic focus of GMF research in ASEAN is diverse.A substantial share of studies addresses regulatoryframeworks,biosafety governance,detection andidentification technologies, consumer perception, andsocio-economic considerations. Environmental impacts GMF health impacts are increasingly studied usingsystematic and comparative approaches (Shen et al.,2022). Health Considerations: Evidence, Uncertainty, andPublic Trust Internationally,GMF approved for commercial useundergoes pre-market safety assessment followingCodexAlimentarius principles,covering toxicity,allergenicity,nutritional effects,and unintendedcompositionalchanges.Regulatoryauthoritiesgenerally conclude that approved GMF is as safe as However,health-focused research remains limited.Thereis a notable scarcity of studies examininglong-termtoxicologicaleffectsthroughanimalfeeding trials, clinical or epidemiological outcomes inhumanpopulations,and context-specific nutritional Socio-economicdebatescentreonintellectualpropertyright