Genetically modified organisms GMOs: deliberate release into the environment (repeal. Directive 90/220/EEC)

The Council's common position has adopted verbatim, partially or in substance - 38 out of the 39 European Parliament amendments included by the Commission in its amended proposal, together with a large number of amendments that the Commission did not include. Firstly, the amendment not taken up by the Council was the amendment 16 which sought to define the term "use". It was not accepted insofar as this term was used in its ordinary sense in the common position. The changes made by the Council to the amended proposal relate to: - the extension of the procedural time limits in the proposal so that further information can be supplied and the information itself can be processed more effectively; - making a clearer distinction between activities regulated by Part B of the Directive and those covered in Part C; - regrouping the exceptions in a single Article; - ensuring consistency between this Directive and Directive 90/219/EEC on the contained use of micro-organisms, as amended by Directive 98/81/EC; - clarifying the definition of "placing on the market" to ensure that it does not apply to the supplying of GMOs for activities regulated under Directive 90/219 or subject to similar containment measures, or for research and development activities covered by Part B of Directive 90/220. The definition thus takes account of amendment 13; - the reference to the exception of "human beings" to be included in the definition of GMO rather than in the definition of organism, where it seemed somewhat illogical. In conclusion, these specific changes have been introduced in order to strengthen the principles of the risk assessment procedure and the inclusion of public consultation linked with mandatory labelling at all stages of the placing on the market of GMOs increases transparency.�