Decisions relating to environmental release - experimental GMO field trials

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which have been granted authorisation for environmental field trials may not be used as food or feed and may not be further processed for this purpose. They are intended for experimental purposes only.

An overview of field trials

After being registered, all applications for GMO location register field trials in Germany are recorded in the BVL database (including authorisation status). Detailed information on the applications is accessible selecting the corresponding file number.

The BVL register of GMO location provides information on the exact location of GMO field trials as well as GMOs cultivated for placing on the market, along with the size of the area used.

The European Union (EU) provides information in English on environmental releases that have been requested in different EU Member States in the “GMO Register” (section experimental releases).

Approval procedures and safety assessment

In contrast to the placing on the market of GMOs, decisions relating to the deliberate release (field trials) of GMOs are not taken in the EU, but are made at the level of the individual Member State and apply exclusively to this State. The BVL is the approval authority responsible for experimental field trials in Germany.

As part of the approval procedure, the future operator already submits risk assessments for field tests on GMOs as part of the application. This information is evaluated by the BVL in a safety assessment and passed on to other authorities and the public.

This diagram is intended to guide you through the complex approval procedure for releases. Details on the approval procedure can be found here, on the BVL website.

Further background information on releases is compiled here, on the BVL website.

Notifications to the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) Central Portal

The international central portal of the Biosafety Clearing House provides all interested parties with information on German authorisations for experimental releases and the corresponding risk assessments in its dtabase. You can find this information in the BCH in the Country Profile Germany under the categories Country's Decisions or any other Communication or Risk Assessment generated by a regulatory process.

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