Food Law News - EU - 2002

Council Minutes, 3-4 October 2002

GMO - Genetically Modified Organisms: Decisions approved

The following is an extract from the minutes of the 2452nd Council meeting (Transport, Telecommunications and Energy), Luxembourg, 3-4 October 2002. The item was approved without debate.

In the context of directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the Council adopted the following decisions:

• A decision establishing guidance notes supplementing Annex VII of directive 2001/18/EC. Annex VII describes the objective to be achieved and the general principle to be followed in designing a monitoring plan to trace and identify any effects on human health or the environment resulting from the placing on the market of GMOs.
• A decision establishing a “Summary Information Format” for the placing on the market of GMOs. Pursuant to the directive, the competent national authority must be notified prior to the placing on the market of GMOs. The notification comprises a summary of the relevant dossier, and the decision sets the format to be used for that summary.
• A decision establishing a “Summary Notification Information Format”, concerning the release into the environment of GMOs for purposes other than for placing on the market. Pursuant to the directive, the competent national authority must be previously notified of the release, and the decision sets the format to be used by national authorities when sending a summary of the notification to the Commission.