Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 7 U.K. Differentiated procedures

1. If sufficient experience has been obtained of releases of certain GMOs in certain ecosystems and the GMOs concerned meet the criteria set out in Annex V, a competent authority may submit to the Commission a reasoned proposal for the application of differentiated procedures to such types of GMOs.

2. Following its own initiative or at the latest 30 days following the receipt of a competent authority's proposal, the Commission shall,

(a) forward the proposal to the competent authorities, which may, within 60 days, present observations and at the same time;

(b) make available the proposal to the public which may, within 60 days, make comments; and

(c) consult the relevant Scientific Committee(s) which may, within 60 days give an opinion.

3. A decision shall be taken on each proposal in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30(2). This decision shall establish the minimum amount of technical information from Annex III necessary for evaluating any foreseeable risks from the release, in particular:

(a) information relating to the GMO(s);

(b) information relating to the conditions of release and the potential receiving environment;

(c) information on the interactions between the GMO(s) and the environment;

(d) the environmental risk assessment.

4. This decision shall be taken within 90 days of the date of the Commission's proposal or of receipt of the competent authority's proposal. This 90 day period shall not take into account the period of time during which the Commission is awaiting the observations of competent authorities, the comments of the public or the opinion of Scientific Committees, as provided for in paragraph 2.

5. The decision taken under paragraphs 3 and 4 shall provide that the notifier may proceed with the release only when he has received the written consent of the competent authority. The notifier shall proceed with the release in conformity with any conditions required in this consent.

The decision taken under paragraphs 3 and 4 may provide that releases of a GMO or of a combination of GMOs on the same site or on different sites for the same purpose and within a defined period may be notified in a single notification.

6. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 to 5, Commission Decision 94/730/EC of 4 November 1994 establishing simplified procedures concerning the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified plants pursuant to Article 6(5) of Council Directive 90/220/EEC(1) shall continue to apply.

7. Where a Member State decides to make use or not of a procedure established in a decision taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 for releases of GMOs within its territory, it shall inform the Commission thereof.

(1)

OJ L 292, 12.11.1994, p. 31.