Key findings
Stakeholders and competent authorities expressed support for the main objectives of the legislation, such as protecting health and the environment as well as creating an internal market which remains consistent with the needs of society. The evaluation reports also confirmed that many recent actions of the Commission were on the right track.
However, some adjustments were deemed necessary to better implement the existing legislation, for example:
the authorisation system could be more efficient
GMO cultivation would benefit from more flexibility
Risk assessment process would benefit from further harmonisation
Following evaluation recommendations, the Commission has launched following actions:
A proposal for increased flexibility on GMO cultivation
Technical information on the socio-economic implications of GMO cultivation
Reviewing and transforming the risk assessment guidelines for food and feed and environmental release into legal documents approved by EU countries
Reinforcing of the environmental monitoring
Harmonised sampling and testing for low level presence in food
Assessing of new plant breeding techniques
Stepping up communication on GMO issues
Related links
- Press release 28 Oct. 2011
- Questions and answers
- Evaluation of GMO cultivation - Final evaluation report (2011)
- Evaluation of GMO cultivation - Executive summary (2011)
- Evaluation of GM food and feed - Final evaluation report (2010)
- Evaluation of GM food and feed - Executive summary (2010)
- Full regulation on EUR-Lex website