Definitions for "Substantial Equivalence"
The concept, used by the biotech industry and many regulatory agencies, that the composition of GM foods is not chemically different from conventional ones in ways that could affect their safety or nutritional value, and therefore require no special safety testing or labelling.
used as a tool in risk assessment. A comparative technique recommended by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): when faced with a novel or modified food or food product, you search for its nearest equivalent amongst existing organisms used as food or sources of food. These can then be used as the basis for comparison to assess risk, given that there should be extensive knowledge available.
Français] A principle for safety assessment that compares a traditional non-modified product with a long history of safe use to a genetically modified product. It is substantially equivalent if it has all the characteristics of the non-modified product.