. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/EEC/6
30 August 2001
(01-4173)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:
European Commission
EC-TBT Enquiry PointFax: + 32 2 299 57 25
Email: ec-tbt@cec.eu.int
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [ X], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Genetically  modified
organisms (GMOs) for food or feed use, food and feed containing or consisting of GMOs,food produced from or containing ingredie nts produced from GMOs, and feed produced
from GMOs.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   COM(2001)425 Final
“Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Genetically
Modified Food and Feed” (40 pages, in all EC languages)
6. Description of content:   The proposal notified hereby lays down a centralised Community
procedure for safety assessment and authorisation of genetically modified food and feed
(cfr products covered) as well as comprehensive labelling requirements for these products.
It repeals existing regulations and amends other regulations and directives.
A comprehensive overview of the practical implications of this proposal is provided in Press
Notice IP/01/1095 available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Health , environment, and consumer protection, prevention of deceptive practices
8. Relevant documents:   COM(2001)425 final. The proposal will be published in the Official
Journal of the E.C., C Series.
The proposal takes account of the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to
the Convention on Biological Diversity as regards importer obligations and notification.G/TBT/N/EEC/6
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption: by the European Parliament and the Council:  summer 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  on the 20th day following that of the publication of the
Regulation in the Official Journal of the E.C. / Proposed date of application: 6 months after
the date of publication of the Regulation
10. Final date for comments:   27 October 2001
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [     ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
Information on Food policy available in http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/index_en.html .
The proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically
modified food and feed COM(2001)425 final is available in http://europa.eu.int/eur-
lex/en/com/index1.html
English: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2001/en_501PC0425.pdf
Spanish: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/com/pdf/2001/es_501PC0425.pdf
French: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/fr/com/pdf/2001/fr_501PC0425.pdf
Note:  This notification is without prejudice to views on the consistency of the notified
measures with or their relevance to rights and obligations under the Multilateral Trade
Agreements.