Deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms: implementing powers conferred on the Commission

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report drafted by Gyula HEGYI (PES, HU) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal to amend Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms by introducing a reference to the new regulatory procedure with scrutiny. These were designed to expand the list of areas where implementing measures would be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. These areas include the following:

• decisions on applications for differentiated procedure regarding the deliberate release of GMOs for a purpose other than placing on the market;
• Community procedure in case of objections regarding the placing on the market of GMOs as or in products. The Committee amendment also involves a change in the applicable time limits;
• Member States’ ability to invoke safeguard clauses;
• certain labelling provisions and parts of the Annexes.

The Committee added that for products intended for direct processing, certain provisions on labelling will not apply to traces of authorised GMOs in a proportion no higher than 0.9 % or lower thresholds, provided that these traces are adventitious or technically unavoidable. The Commission shall establish the threshold levels in accordance with regulatory procedure with scrutiny.