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

The Conciliation Committee reached agreement on the joint text of the directive. The compromise package covered the following issues: a timetable for the phasing out of antibiotic resistance makers in GMOs, namely end of 2004 for commercial releases (part C) and end of 2008 for research purposes (part B); a Commission undertaking to bring forward a legislative proposal on environmental liability before the end of 2001, which would also cover damage resulting from GMOs; consideration of potential cumulative long-term effects associated with the interaction with other GMOs and the environment in the context of the risk assessment carried out prior to authorisation; pharmaceuticals - exemptions for GM pharmaceuticals for human use for research purposes (part B of the directive) provided that the sectoral Community legislation that governed their authorisation fulfilled certain criteria (e.g. an equivalent risk assessment); Cartagena Protocol - the Commission was invited to bring forward a legislative proposal by July 2001. As the key issue in this connection was the export of GMOs to third countries, the text agreed also contained provisions that the importing country should be notified of any imports and provided with accurate information about them and that its consent should be obtained; public registers - GMOs released in the trial period (part B of the directive) should be registered and details made available to the public. As regards the release of GMOs for commercial purposes (part C of the directive), their locations would have to be notified to the competent authorities and made known to the public in a manner deemed appropriate by the authorities; renewal of authorisation - the first-time consent for a release of GMOs was limited to a maximum of ten years. It was agreed that the renewal of an initial authorisation would also be limited in time: as a general rule, the renewed consent would be valid for an additional ten-year period. This period could be limited or extended for specific reasons; labelling and traceability of GMOs - Parliament insisted on clear labelling and traceability rules for GMOs and derived products as they were essential for consumers. In a written declaration, the Commission committed itself to bringing forward appropriate legislative proposals on labelling and traceability in the course of 2001 which would supplement the existing labelling regime in accordance with the White Paper on Food Safety. �