EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 2.4.2009 
SEC(2009) 408  
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
 
accompanying 
 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO  THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 
 
on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming 
Implementation of national measures on the coexistence of GM crops with conventional 
and organic farming 
 
{COM(2009) 153 final} 
 
 
DOCUMENT IN ELECTRONICAL VERSION ONLY 
 
EN 2   EN Table of contents  
1. Technical details concerning the national  or regional coexistence legislation ...... 4 
1.1. Information, registration and training procedures ...................................................... 4 
1.1.1. Procedures for the information of public  authorities of GM crop cultivation ............. 4 
1.1.2. Procedures for the information of th ird parties of GM crop cultivation...................... 8 
1.1.3. Information procedures applying for operato rs other than farmers dealing with GM 
seeds or harvested material of GM crops  (obligations resul ting from Community 
legislation are not listed) ............................................................................................ 12 
1.1.4. Information on GM crop cultivation made ava ilable to the general public or to parties 
with a specific interest................................................................................................ 13 
1.1.5. Mandatory authorisation or notification pr ocedures for the cultivation of GM crops 
and, if applicable, conditions to be met by farmers to receive authorisation for the 
cultivation of GM crops ............................................................................................. 16 
1.1.6. Requirements on mandatory training to de monstrate a minimum level of knowledge 
or education for operators dealing with GMOs.......................................................... 19 
1.1.7. Provisions on record keeping for GM cr op growers (this sectio n does not consider 
obligations under Community legislati on, notably Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003) 22 
1.2. Technical segregation measures ................................................................................ 24 
1.2.1. Maximum tolerance level of GMO admixt ure in non-GM produc tion that was taken 
into account to derive the required segr egation measures between GM and non-GM 
production .................................................................................................................. 24 
1.2.2. Spatial segregation measures applying to se gregate fields with GM crops from other 
fields or from other areas. .......................................................................................... 26 
1.2.3. Operators responsible for the implemen tation of the segregation measures.............. 29 
1.2.4. Measures required during seed handling, s eeding, cultivation (o ther than spatial 
segregation measures), harvest, post-harvest  operations, tr ansport, storage and further 
processing................................................................................................................... 31  
1.2.5. Application of segregati on measures; Agreements between neighbours not to apply 
segregation measures ................................................................................................. 36 
1.3. Rules and procedures in cases of GMO admixture and/or damage .......................... 38 
1.3.1. Notification requirements applicable for ope rators in cases where GMO presence is 
observed in non-GM products or else where in the environment (labelling 
requirements according to Community legi slation are not considered here)............. 38 
1.3.3. Availability of insurance cover on the market for economic risks related to GMO 
admixture.................................................................................................................... 43  
1.3.4. Obligatory subscription of an insurance .................................................................... 44 
 
EN 3   EN 1.4. Restrictions for the cultivation of GM crops .............................................................. 45 
1.4.1. Regions where GM crops may not be gr own, or where specific authorisation 
procedures apply ........................................................................................................ 45 
1.4.2. Designation of regions or zones reserv ed for the cultivation of GM crops or, 
alternatively, for the cultivation of non-GM crops .................................................... 47 
1.4.3. Provisions concerning the possibility that coexistence may not be  possible in certain 
regions due to difficult farming conditions................................................................ 50 
1.4.4. Measures concerning the cultivation of GM crops in the framework of the national or 
regional Rural Development Programmes................................................................. 51 
1.4.5. Legislative restrictions for the cultivation of GM crops ............................................ 52 
1.4.6. Agreement of third parties to the cultivation of GM crops........................................ 53 1.5. Administrative provisions ........................................................................................... 55 
1.5.1. Enforcement and monitoring of the provisions by public  authorities........................ 55 
1.5.2. Penalty rates for non-compliance of the coexistence rules ........................................ 58 
2. Monitoring programmes of th e co-existence legislation ....................................... 61 
2.1. Monitoring programmes established follo wing the adoption of the legislation, and 
their outcome .............................................................................................................. 61 
2.2. Indication regarding the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the co-existence 
rules in place .............................................................................................................. 64 
3. List of national co-exist ence legislation in force .................................................... 66 
4. Commercial experience with  GM maize cultivation ............................................. 68 
4.1. Surface of GM maize cultivation and development over time .................................... 68 
4.2. Identified problems in relation to commercial GM maize production ....................... 70 
4.3. Impact of the adopted co-exi stence legislation on th e introduction of GM crops ..... 71 
5. Cross-border issues .................................................................................................. 72 
5.1. Cooperation with neighbouring Member States  in order to addr ess the cross-border 
implications of the different national co -existence regimes ....................................... 72 
5.2. Documented cases of economic damage resu lting from cross-border admixture of 
GMOs or other observations  of cross-border admixture ........................................... 74 
5.3. Claims that operators have difficulties im plementing co-existence measures in the 
close vicinity to a border ............................................................................................ 75 
6. National research activities on co-existence ........................................................... 76 
6.1. 
Relevant supporting research for the development of co-existence measures ........... 76 
6.2. Coexistence research currently taking place in the Member States .......................... 84 
 
EN 4   EN Implementation of national measures on the coexistence of GM crops with conventional 
and organic farming 
This report is mainly based on the information provided by the Member States in response to 
a questionnaire circulated by the Commission. Empty cells, where the information made 
available by the Member States was not suffici ent to provide a detailed description of the 
situation have been deleted. 
1. Technical details concerning the national  or regional coexistence legislation 
1.1. Information, registration and training procedures 
1.1.1.  Procedures for the information of pub lic authorities of GM crop cultivation 
AT The legislation of the regions (Länder) di ffers in detail. Generally, farmers who 
intend to cultivate GM crops have to inform public authorities three months in advance. Information to be provided include s (not necessarily in all regions): the 
land registry designation of the parcel of  land concerned with the intended use as 
well as that of the adjacent  parcels of land (partly also names and addresses of 
owners of adjacent parcels); a proof of  land ownership or other right of use 
relating to the parcel of land intended to be used; a proof of the agreement of the 
landowner (co-owner) for the intended use for the duration of th e application, if 
the notifier is not the sole owner; a descri ption of the size, location and nature of 
the parcel of land that is to be used; details enabling identification of the GMOs 
that are to be applied to the land a nd of their particular properties and 
characteristics; proof of the approval is sued under the genetic engineering law, 
including any conditions and instructions provided for thereby; a description of 
the conditions of applicati on (objectives, schedule for application, methods of 
application, number of GMOs, procedure for disposal or destruction of the 
GMOs) and details of possible recipient plants; details of the intended precautionary measures; a declaration of  the farmer to possess appropriate 
knowledge in order to avoid an inappropriate use of GM Os and be able to take 
the necessary preventive measures.  
Flanders (draft measures): Farmers who intend to cultivate GM crops shall inform the competent authority and shall submit a certificate which shows that training on the cultivati on of GM crops has been followed. The Flemish 
Government still has to determine the ex act content of the information (but the 
farmer’s name, address, exact location of the crop field, type of GMO are 
certainly needed) and the ultimate notification date (probably approximately 4 
months before the sowing or planting date). 
BE Wallonia: A registration is compulsory. Th e procedure is still to be defined. 
Information to be provided: identity, loca tion of the crop, species that will be 
planted, unique identifier , variety name, planned da te of planting, result of 
neighbours’ notification, declaration of no tification to other parties (if needed: 
owner of the land, farmer using machinery in common), engagement to respect specific cultural practices 
 
EN 5   EN CY Measures not yet determined 
CZ Information provided to the Ministry of Agriculture by Bt maize growers before 
sowing (at the latest on 1st March of the growing year for maize and potatoes): 
farmer’s identification, identification of the field (unique number according to 
the Land Parcel Identification System),  supposed sowing date of GM crop and 
information whether a buffer zone will be implemented, including its extent. 
DE All plantings of GMOs, including field tr ials and commercial  cultivation, must 
be entered into a public register. Notifica tions must be receive d three months in 
advance for commercial cultivation, or three days in advance for a field trial. The 
entry in the register must specify the na me and the unique iden tifier of the GMO, 
its novel trait(s), site location and size, a nd the name and address of the farmer or 
scientist. Personal information is withheld  from the public unless it is of personal 
interest to an inquirer, e .g. if a farmer wants information on who is growing GM 
crops in the immediate vicinity. 
DK Farmers have to inform public authori ties about GM crop cultivation in the 
coming summer and winter season not la ter than the 21 April each year. The 
requested information is: location of th e GM cropping indica ted by field number 
and field block number according to national field register, field size, species and 
variety of the GM crop. The information sh all be provided on the same form that 
farmers use to apply for subsidies.  
EE (Draft measures) Farmers intending to grow GM crops have to notify the 
competent authority, which registers GM crop growers. 
ES (Current situation) There is no obliga tion to notify the public  authorities about 
the intention of growing GM maize. Seed  marketers have the obligation to notify 
farmers or seed distributo rs about the quantity of GM  seeds marketed in each 
agricultural season. These GM  seeds are registered in the National Commune 
Catalogue of Agricultural Species.  
(Draft measures) Farmers will have to notify the regional competent authority 
information on the plots when they inte nd to grow GM crops. The information, 
which includes location of the plot, variety of the GM crop and acreage among other data, shall be provided in written form and at the latest one month before 
sowing.  
FI Before sowing or planting GM plant mate rial the grower shall make a written 
notification to the local authority. The notification shall be made for each growing period before the first day of December preceding the aimed sowing or 
planting date. The notification shall cont ain contact information of the grower; 
the identity of the farm, enterprise, comm unity or person; the name of the plant 
variety and the acreage and precise locati on of its cultivation; intended time of 
starting the cultivation; and the name  of the person that has passed the 
examination enacted for GM crop cultivation and the date of passing the examination. In case of withdr awal of the notified cultiv ation, entirely or in part, 
a written notification of w ithdrawal shall be made w ithout delay to the above-
mentioned authority. 
 
EN 6   EN FR There is no obligation for farmers to info rm public authorities concerning their 
intent to grow GM crops. GM crop grower s must declare the cultivation after the 
sowing. The following information has to be  provided: the exact location of the 
field, the cadastral references, the surf ace, the date of the sowing, the unique 
identifier of the GMO, and the contact de tails of the farmer. The information has 
to be provided at the latest by 15 May. 
HU The sowing of GM seeds shall not be undertaken unless in possession of a valid 
cultivation consent of the designated authority (the Mi nistry of Agriculture and 
Rural Development). Farmers have to ask for permission from the competent authority to grow GM crops at least 90 days before the foreseen date of sowing. 
The application shall include the followi ng information: the name and company 
name of the grower, the permanent address or legal abode, the client registration number, the location of grow ing, its cadastral number, size, block identification 
numbers of land sections, as well as the plant species intended  to be grown, the 
unique identifier, and the GM trait. The farmer also ha s to provide the competent 
authority a certificate, which proves that he participated in the coexistence course. After the examination of the application, the competent authority may 
issue a preliminary cultivation consent in which it determines the isolation 
distance and other cultivation conditions, if necessary. After the receipt of the 
preliminary consent, the farmer has to obt ain the prior consent in writing of land 
owners within the isolation distance desi gnated in the prelimin ary consent, and if 
lands within the isolation distance are not  being used by the land owner, the prior 
consent in writing of the land user, and if  the notifier is not the owner of land 
where he intends to grow GM plants, he shall also submit the prior written consent of the owner of the land concer ned. If the owner of land within the 
isolation distance is the Hungarian State,  the prior written consent of property 
management organisation, or in the abse nce of this, the organisation exerting 
ownership rights shall be submitted. If  the neighbours within the isolation 
distance approve the GMO cultivation by written declaration, it also means that during the validity of the cultivation consent, they give up growing sexually compatible plants. All written approvals  have to be sent  to the competent 
authority no later than 20 days befo re the foreseen date of sowing. The 
competent authority makes its final deci sion on the cultivation within 15 days. 
IR (Draft measures): GM crop growers have  to inform the competent authority 
(Department of Agriculture, Fisheries a nd Food (DAFF) and provide information 
to following information: Crop, area, te mporal separation, training. The deadline 
for notification is 60 days before planting. 
IT (Draft measures): The guidelines fores ee that a person havi ng the intention to 
cultivate GM crops has to apply for an appropriate authorisation by the end of 
November of the previous year and, in a ny case, at least three months in advance 
before planting GM crops, supplying the following information: Registry office 
of the producer; cultivated species and the GM variety;  foreseen destination of 
the product (food, feed, seeds or material  of multiplication, industrial products, 
other); foreseen period of cultivation; cadastral reference of the concerned area (ISTAT code, province and municipality, num ber of map, parcel and sub-parcel); 
reference of enabling licence; declaration for the communication made to the nearest producers and owners of the land. In the case of rented land the 
 
EN 7   EN application has to contain a copy of the formal owner agreement. At the same 
time, a farm management plan has to be notified. Moreover , the producers have 
to proceed to the payment of the region al tariff per hectar e of the GM crop 
cultivation and to notify w ithin 15 days after planti ng, the location of the GM 
plant and the date of  the actual seeding. 
LT Farmer must at least 30 days prior to the planned date of sowing or planting, 
inform the Ministry of Agriculture of th e Republic of Lithua nia and the Ministry 
of Environment of the Republic of Lithua nia using the form attached in Annex I 
of Coexistence Rules of the intention to cultivate GM crops. In this form the farmer indicates the municipality, sub-dist rict of the fields where GM crops are 
to be cultivated, land block number, name  of the plants in GM crops and the 
unique identifier of the GMO. 
LU Farmers must inform the competent author ity (ASTA) two months before sowing 
GM crops of the exact location of these fields. 
LV GM crop growers shall submit to the State Plant Protection Service a notification 
for their inclusion in the Register of Grow ers not later than three months prior to 
the commencement of the activity, and duri ng the subsequent years shall inform 
the State Plant Protection Service in writing regarding any changes. The following information shall be indicated in  the notification: 1. the date and place 
of the notification submission; 2. the no tifier's given name, surname, personal 
identity number, firm name, registrati on number and date in the Enterprise 
Register, address and telephone number; a nd 3. species, variety, area of the field, 
the location of the field (address) and the purpose of the cultivation of the GM crops to be cultivated. 
NL Per the 1st of February GM crop growers have to inform the public authorities, 
especially the DR (Service of Rules and Regulations). They ha ve to provide the 
type of crop and exact location.  
PL Measures not yet determined 
PT Farmers must submit the GM crop cultivat ion notification form 20 days before 
the anticipated date of sowing at the late st to the farmers' organisation or the 
Regional Agricultural Service. Reque sted information: Name, Address, 
attendance of training course, species, va riety, seed lot number, plot number, area 
to be sown, probable date of so wing/planting, coexistence measures. 
RO Farmers using seed produced by third pa rties or from own production shall apply 
for an authorisation, subseque ntly recorded in the County Register at the latest by 
the 1st of May every year, to the county offi ce of the Ministry of Agriculture 
(Agricultural and Rural Development Di rectorate- ARDD). In case of winter 
crops, the authorisation request sh all be submitted at the latest 1st of July.  
In order to be authorised, the farmers ha ve to annually file an application with 
the respective county. The application come s together with a file containing the 
following documents: a) identification documents: for natural persons: photocopy of the ID bulletin / card; fo r legal persons: photocopies of the 
registration certificate and fiscal registra tion certificate; b) documents certifying 
 
EN 8   EN the registration in the Farm Register; c) a statement of the applicant, concerning 
the area operated and the compliance with the GMO legislation (the application 
form and statement are presented in legislation).  
SI (Draft measures) A notification shall be submitted by the head of an agricultural 
holding who intends to cultivate GM crops  submitted to the Ministry not later 
than 60 days prior to the planned cultivation of these GM crops. The head of an agricultural holding shall give  the following information in the application: (a) 
information on the applicant (company or personal name and head office or address; ID number from the business regi ster or citizen’s uniform ID number); 
(b) specification of agricultural hold ing (KMG-MID number assigned to them 
under the act governing agriculture); area, register ed in the Register of 
Agricultural Holdings (RAH), where GM crops are intended to be grown 
(GERK-PID or part of GERK, actual area of crop); (c) GM crops intended for 
cultivation (species and variety of agricu ltural plant, and unique identifier for 
GMOs and type of processing (open fiel d or protected area); (d) measures 
envisaged for ensuring coexistence and th e location and the ar ea of agricultural  
land, where this measures will be taken (for areas registered in RAH: GERK-
PID; for other areas: cadastral muni cipality and the pa rcel number); (e) 
responsible person for the cul tivation of GM crops that is professionally qualified 
for the management of GM crops (name and address; ID number; number and date of the valid examination certificate) ; (f) written agreement regarding a joint 
implementation of measures for ensuri ng co-existence between GM crop 
producers and the heads of agricultural holdi ngs. If the applicant can assure all 
measures on his own area registered in Re gister of Agricultur al holdings or the 
on the land located in a specific area around an individual piece of land or area 
(the isolation distance) the writ ten agreement is not required. 
SK Cultivation of GM crops shall be notified to the Central Control and Testing 
Institute of Agriculture (UKSUP), provi ding the following information: Name of 
locality, maps of locality with place of production and a declaration that the farmer attended a training course in the handling with GM crops. Every year 
before the cultivation the farmer shall inform the UKSUP and add a statement that the neighbouring field users have been informed. Technical plans for the GM crop cultivation shall be added. 
SV GM crop growers must inform the Swedish board of agriculture, SBA, about the 
cultivation of GM crops. Only actual cultivation is to be reported to the SBA, not intentions to cultivate. A form is made  available and shall be sent to the SBA 
within two weeks from sowing. The form contains questions on: name, telephone 
number and a customer number; crop, vari ety name, identity of the field and if 
there has been made an agreement with  a neighbour farmer (see point 1.2.5). 
 
1.1.2.  Procedures for the information of third parties of GM crop cultivation 
AT The regional legislation vari es. In most regions (Lände r), GM crop growers have 
to inform owners or users of adjacent  areas (in some cases excluding those of 
roadways) and areas only separated by road ways without delay and must be able 
to demonstrate proof of this  notification. In some regi ons, information about the 
 
EN 9   EN cultivation of GM crops must be publishe d in the newsletter of the Chamber of 
Agriculture and/or in a daily newspaper th at is widely distri buted in the region. 
In other regions, proof of notification of  neighbours has to be presented to the 
Chamber of Agriculture. No such info rmation requirements exist in one region. 
Flanders: Farmers intending to cultivate GM crops shall inform by means of a 
statement of intention all farmers wo rking on plots with boundaries that are 
either wholly or partly within the no tification distance (to be determined per 
plant species) and, additi onally, the person who agreed  the cultivation contract 
for the plot on which the farmer intends to cultivate the GM crop. The exact information to be provided has not been  defined yet. Probably the notification 
period will be approximately three months before the sowing or planting date, to 
give neighbouring farmers the opportunity to appeal. 
BE Wallonia: A notification to neighbours is compulsory. The procedure is still to be 
defined. 
CY Measures not yet determined  
CZ GM crop growers are obliged to inform the users of land parcels which are 
located in a crop specific distance (for maize 70 m to conventional and 200 m to 
organic farmers) at the latest by 1st March of the growing year for maize and 
potatoes. 
DE GM crop growers shall notify the neighbours of the following information no 
later than three months prior to sowing or growing: 1. name and address; 2. the 
plot of land to be cultiv ated and the size of the area of cultivation; 3. the plant 
species and the name and the unique identif ier. Any changes to this information 
shall be notified without delay. Where GM crop growers ar e unaware of the 
identity of a neighbour they may give not ification to the owne r of the area in 
question whilst asking the said owner to pa ss the information on to the farmer in 
question. If, within one month of the owne r receiving notifica tion, the grower has 
not received any response, the grower ma y assume that the owner is the farmer 
of the area in question. 
DK GM crop growers have to inform owners and users of fields located within a 
certain distance of their GM field. The in formation includes species and location. 
The information shall be given not later than 1st February for spring crops and 1st 
July for winter crops. Farmers are also obliged to inform agricultural supply 
service agencies and transport companies they order to handle  or transport GM 
crops that the crop is GM. 
EE GM crop growers have a duty to inform owners and users of fields situated 
within the isolation dist ances (GM maize: 300 m) three months before the 
intended cultivation of a GM crop. They have to provide information about the 
species of the crop. They also have to provide, in writing, information about the 
intention to grow GM crops  to beekeepers, whose beehives are situated up to 
three kilometres away from the field, wh ere GM crops are pla nned to be grown. 
In case of the sale, farming out, leasing or  other form of transfer of land on which 
GM crops have been cultivated, the transfer or shall notify the acquirer of this fact 
 
EN 10   EN in writing. 
ES (Current situation) There are no ma ndatory information requirements. 
(Draft measures) Farmers must inform in writing their adjacent neighbours as 
well as those farmers whose crop fields  fall within the required isolation 
distances, about their intent ion to grow GM crops one month before the sowing 
date at the latest.  
FI Information on forthcoming GM crop cultivat ion has to be notified in the register 
(about 5 to 6 months) in advance. Genera l information on GM crop cultivation is 
published by the registration authoritie s separate for each commune. More 
detailed information on the plans for fort hcoming GM crop cultivation in each 
locality can be obtained by interested third parties from the register authorities. 
GM crop growers must inform other actors who commonly use machinery, 
equipment, transport equipment or facilities with him about the GM crop cultivation. 
FR (Draft measures) Farmers must inform th eir neighbours about thei r intent to grow 
GM crops before the sowing. The conditions will be described in an Order.  
HU After the receipt of the preliminary cons ent, a GM crop grow er has to obtain a 
written approval from the neighbours (f armers/field owners), which operate 
within the isolation dist ance (For more details see point 1.1.1). After the 
competent authority issued the final cons ent for the cultivation, it publishes data 
included in the application as well as all relevant information on the conditions of the cultivation in the national database without delay. 
IR (Draft measures) GM crop growers have to  inform all other farmers within the 
isolation distance, providing information about the crop species, sowing date, etc. 
The deadlines are not specified as yet but must be available on application to the 
Department of Agriculture and Food. 
IT (Draft measures) The guidelines foresee that a person who has the intention to 
cultivate GM crops has to inform th e nearest farms in conformity with 
procedures established by the Region usi ng an official regional form. A deadline 
is not foreseen. In the case of rented land, the person has to inform the land 
owner in order to get a formal agreement for the cultivation of GM crops, which 
is to be attached to the application.  
LT Farmer must, prior to the declaration of  GM crops, in writing, using the form 
attached to the coexistence rules, inform  the owners of holdings located at the 
minimum isolation distance and beekeepers ke eping apiaries within a distance of 
5 km of the cultivation of GM crops providing the copies of plans for crop rotation and cultivation of plants in GM crops. In this form the farmer indicates 
the municipality, sub-district of the fiel ds where GM crops are to be cultivated, 
land block number, name of the plants in GM crops and unique identifier of the GMO. 
LU The exact location of the fields where GM crops are intended for growing is 
immediately communicated to the public  through a national register on GM 
 
EN 11   EN crops. 
LV GM crop growers shall: 1. inform in  writing bee-keepers regarding the 
cultivation of such GM crops which are nectar plants; 2. inform the owners or 
users of the neighbouring fiel ds in writing rega rding the cultivation of GM crops 
and shall append information on the species of the GM crop, as well as a copy of 
a land border plan (with the cadastre number of the land unit), on which the 
boundaries and area of the field of GM crop are indicated. Deadlines have not 
been set. Farmers must do this befo re registration in the GMO register. 
NL Farmers have to inform neighbouring farmers by the 1st of February of their 
intention to grow GM crops. 
PL Measures not yet determined 
PT GM crop growers must inform in writing neighbouring farmers, and farmers that 
they are sharing agricultural machinery with (such as sowing or harvesting machinery), of their intention to cultivate GM crops, within 20 days before the planned date for sowing at the latest. 
RO GM crop growers have to inform about their intention to grow GM crops, in 
written form, both the legal owners of  the land and the landowners in the 
neighbourhood within the isol ation distances provided in  the specific rules and 
norms related to the seed production, as well as the town-hall under whose jurisdiction the land plots fall. The ow ners of the lands neighbouring the GM 
crops, within the isolation distances, can submit an appeal, in written form, both to the grower and to the county Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development (ARDD) competent in the ar ea where the land is located, within 10 
days after receipt of th is information. Informi ng the landowners in the 
neighbourhood about the intention to grow GM crops should be made before the 
authorisation process.  
SI (Draft measures) Farmers have to inform  the heads of agricultural holdings or 
owners of land located within the isola tion distance of their intention to grow 
GM crops. By written agreement to the intended cultivation of GM crops, these heads of agricultural holdings and other owners of land within this distance assume a responsibility to take a number of  measures to prevent the adventitious 
presence of GM crops in ot her agricultural plants and pr oducts. If the producer of 
GM crop can assure all necessary measur ement by himself, no other information 
procedure is necessary. The draft of the Act does not determine the content of 
such written agreements.  
SK GM crop growers shall inform neighbouri ng field users within the isolation 
distance about the intention to cultivat e GM crops and its maturity class. 
SV GM crop growers must provide written in formation to economic operators who 
use agricultural land within 100 mete rs from the intended GM field. The 
information shall be given no later than 1st of November and contain information 
that cultivation of GM crop is planned, which crop species and the location of the 
cultivation. 
 
EN 12   EN  
1.1.3.  Information procedures applying for opera tors other than farmers dealing with 
GM seeds or harvested material of GM  crops (obligations  resulting from 
Community legislati on are not listed) 
BE Flanders and Wallonia:  No further requirements 
CY Measures not yet determined  
CZ No further requirements 
DE No further requirements 
DK Owners or users of vehicles, machinery a nd equipment, transport facilities etc. 
that have been used to ha ndle GM seeds or GM crops ha ve to inform about that 
handling to the next customer or user, if this is a conventional or organic farmer. 
There is a corresponding information oblig ation for owners and users of storage 
facilities. There is also an information duty in relation to the sale, leasing, rental or other forms of transfer of areas of land that have been cultivated with GM 
crops. There is also an information obliga tion in connection with  sale, rental or 
other forms of transfer of machinery, stor erooms, etc. that have been used to 
handle or store GM seeds or GM crops. 
EE No further requirements 
ES GM seed producers and distributors have to provide, in writing, farmers with 
information needed to ensure the compliance with co-existence, labelling and traceability measures. GM seed marketer s have to notify to the competent 
authority how many seeds they  sold on a yearly basis. This information is also 
provided to seed distri butors and farmers.  
FI (Draft measures) No further requirements 
FR (Draft measures) No further requirements 
HU Seed distributors have to keep record on GM seed sales and have to notify to the 
competent authority how many seeds they so ld on a yearly basis. They also have 
to inform buyers that GM seeds can only be sowed if they possess a valid 
cultivation consent. 
IR (Draft measures) Seed suppliers must furnish records 
IT (Draft measures) Operators have the obligation (a) to ask the Region for 
inclusion into a specific register, supplying information on the operations 
regarding the use of GM cr ops; (b) to keep records of the necessary information 
to identify the operator of the request, of the machines used, the production lines, 
equipments, the factories and stores re lated to the different operations, which 
have to be reserved only for the transgenic cultivations and their products; c) employees responsible for the use of GMOs  have to obtain a Licence of Service 
Ability, delivered by each Region in whic h the activity is conducted, except in 
 
EN 13   EN cases of mutual recognition, following the participation of training courses 
related to the separation of GM and non-GM production chains; d) to implement 
the measures of precaution in their ow n competence indicated in the GMO 
specific technical forms approved by the Re gion; e) to proceed to the payment of 
the annual regional tariff of registration;  f) to subscribe before the service 
payment an insurance policy or a guara nty to cover the potential damages 
caused. 
LT No further requirements 
LU The import of GM seeds must be declared to the competent authority 
LV A person wishing to store, prepare and to pack GM crops shall submit to the 
State Plant Protection Service a notification for its inclusion in the Register of Growers prior to the commencement of  activity, and, duri ng the subsequent 
years, shall inform the State Plant Protection Service in writing regarding any changes. The following information shall be  indicated in the notification: 1. the 
date and place of the notification subm ission; 2. the notifier’s given name, 
surname, personal identity number, firm name, registration nu mber and date in 
the Enterprise register, address and te lephone number. 3. the species and variety 
of the crop, the location of the material and technical basis, its owners and the 
co-operation partners in performan ce of the activities with GM crops.  
NL (Draft measures) A compulsory course for GM crop growers and operators is 
under currently construction. 
PL (Draft measures) Detailed information procedures to be applied by operators 
other than farmers will be provided by S eeds Legislation, which is already also 
under preparation.  
PT Seed companies must provide to the regional services of agriculture the list of 
farmers having purchased from them seed of GM varieties in each agricultural 
season. 
RO No further requirements 
SI No further requirements 
SK No further requirements 
SV No further requirements 
 
1.1.4.  Information on GM crop cultivation made available to the general public or to 
parties with a specific interest 
AT A public register is available in all regi ons (Länder). Certain differences exist as 
regards the detailed information made available. The minimal information provided includes the name of the commune, in which GM crops are cultivated, cultivation surface in hectares, species a nd variety of GM crops, unique identifier 
 
EN 14   EN of the GMO, name and address of the owner of the parcels on which GM crops 
are cultivated and of the GM crop grower. Registry of the parcels, on which GM crops are cultivated. Not all of this info rmation may be necessarily accessible in 
electronic form.  
In some regions, more comprehensive info rmation is made available: in the case 
of natural persons, name, place of residence and delivery address, in the case of legal persons and unincorporated firms under mercantile law, legal form, company registration number and head offi ce; the land registry  designation of the 
parcel of land concerned with the intended use as well as that of the adjacent 
parcels of land; proof of land ownership or other right of use relating to the 
parcel of land intended to be used; proof of the agreement of the landowner (co-owner) for the intended use for the duration of the appl ication, if th e notifier is 
not the sole owner; description of the si ze, location and nature of the parcel of 
land that is to be used; details enabling id entification of the GMOs that are to be 
applied to the land; a description of th e conditions of application (objectives, 
schedule for application, methods of a pplication, number of  GMOs, procedure 
for disposal or destruction of the GMOs) and details of possible recipient plants; 
details of the intended precautionary measures; a written declaration about 
sufficient knowledge to prevent an inappr opriate use of GMOs and to apply the 
necessary precautionary measures. 
In some regions the details as regards th e information made available are not yet 
determined. 
Flanders: (Draft measures) The Flemish Government still has to decide on the 
accessibility of the information in the register; it will be minimally the information as foreseen in Royal decree of 21 February 2005 (Belgian 
transposition of Directive 2001/18), the t ype of GMO and the municipality where 
the plot is located. 
BE Wallonia: (Draft measures) To be decide d – but the decree gi ves the possibility 
to publish the location of individual fields.  
CY (Draft measures) The following informati on is made available to the general 
public: all applications, all authorizatio ns, all supplementary information, all 
notifications, the specific lo cation of the cultivation and all convictions, where 
these apply.  
CZ The Ministry of Agriculture does not pr ovide the exact locations of Bt maize 
fields to the general public. Persons intere sted in knowing these locations have to 
send a written request to the Ministry of  Environment, which is also notified 
about the locations directly by farmers. 
DE All plantings of GMOs, including field tr ials and commercial  cultivation, must 
be entered into a public register. The entr y in the register must specify the name 
and the unique identifier of the GMO, its novel trait(s), site location and size, and 
the name and address of the farmer or sc ientist. Personal information is withheld 
from the public unless it is of personal in terest to an inquirer, e.g. if a farmer 
wants information on who is growing GM  crops in the immediate vicinity. 
 
EN 15   EN DK The location of fields cultivated with GM  crops is published on the internet site 
of the Danish Plant Directorate http://gmomark.pdir.dk/  each year in the 
beginning of May. It is also possible to see GM crop cultivation locations from 
earlier years. The internet site contai ns a dynamic map of Denmark with location 
and size of GM fields. 
EE (Draft measures) All availabl e data, except personal data. 
ES (Draft measures) The regional competent authority will keep records of the 
information provided by farmers in an ad -hoc register. The competent authority 
has to notify this information to the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs within a month after rece iving the data from the farmers. This 
Ministry will keep the info rmation in a central regist er. Although the location of 
the plots is part of the information no tified by farmers, it is not planned to 
disseminate it to the general public.    
FI (Draft measures) Information on the regist er is public except for certain personal 
data or confidential business data.  
FR Up to now, the information on the locatio n of GM crop fields was given to the 
public at the level of the canton. According to the new law, the exact references 
of the fields will be published on the internet. 
HU After receiving the application from a fa rmer who intends to crop GM plants, the 
content of the application (e.g. name of the notifier, location, size of the plots, 
plant species/variety intended for sowing, plot number) will be published in the 
central database without delay. Furthermore, all data included in the application as well as relevant information on the cultivation conditions will be published in the national database immediately after the authorization of the GMO cultivation.
IR (Draft measures) Genera l location and crop species  
IT (Draft measures) The guidelines foresee k eeping a regional regi ster, composed of 
different sections (areas of the GM crop cultivations, authorizations to cultivate GM crops, licences of ability, operators of the agri-food chain) with the purpose 
of keeping all information regarding operators within the food production chain 
that are connected to the GM crop cultiv ation. The register, while respecting the 
rules for the protection of personal data, is publically availabl e and can also be 
consulted electronically. 
LT General statistical data of GM crop cultivation (genus, variety, GMO unique 
identifier, area) will be available on th e internet as soon as GM crop cultivation 
will be declared. Data on the cultivati on of GM plant propagating material 
(municipality, species, variety, category, fiel d plots) is available on the internet 
site of the State Seed and Grain Serv ice under the Ministry of Agriculture. 
LU The exact location of the fields where GM crops are intended for cultivation is 
immediately communicated to the public  through a national register on GM 
crops. 
 
EN 16   EN LV The State Plant Protection Service shall ensure all activities indicated in the 
national regulations that relate to the development and managing of the Register 
of Growers, storage and publication of information. 
NL Information provided by the GM crop gr ower is made public by a GMO register 
at provided by the Ministry of Housi ng, Spatial Ordening and Environment 
through an internet site and at the Mini stry itself. Exact locations are made 
public, but not linked to the names of the farmers or ownership of the locations. 
PL Measures not yet determined 
PT The regional services of agricultur e and the DGADR make available through 
their internet sites the following informati on per notification: farm name, if any; 
variety sown; estimated sowing date; coexistence measure applied. Additionally, the DGADR also submits all informati on concerning the notifications for 
cultivation of GM crops to the Po rtuguese Environment Agency of the 
Environmental Ministry, which is the responsible entity for recording the 
cultivation of GM varieties in accor dance with Directive 2001/18. Also, this 
entity makes available to the public so me of the above-mentioned information. 
All information is protected according to legislation on personal data protection. 
RO The information made available to the ge neral public is the total area planted 
with GM crops, and, if reque sted, also the area per coun ties. Individual locations 
are not made available for the general public.  
SI (Draft measures) All data (i.e. the location and area, where GM crops are 
cultivated, isolation distances, the area fo r cultivation of GM crops on the basis 
of mutual agreements among neighbours, GMO-free areas on the basis of agreements (will be availabl e in maps), the species of  GM crop, and measures for 
the coexistence) shall be accessible to the public and will be published on the 
Ministry internet site, except data protec ted by the Personal Da ta Protection Act, 
or confidential business information, or tax secrets. 
SK UKSUP forwards the information about GM  crop cultivation to  the Ministry of 
Agriculture. The following information will be published: the number of farmers, species and acreage of GM crops in a re gion, the number of locations with GM 
crops, the yield and the holdings. 
SV The SBA will provide information on the internet, such as the type of GM crop 
grown, and in which municipality and pari sh. Closer informa tion on the location 
could be released upon request. 
 
1.1.5.  Mandatory authorisation or  notification procedures1 for the cultivation of GM 
crops and, if applicable, conditions  to be met by farmers to receive 
authorisation for the cu ltivation of GM crops 
                                                 
1  Authorisation procedure for each field means that  cultivation of GM crops is not allowed prior to 
receiving authorisation by a local authority following an application by the farmer. In the case of a 
 
EN 17   EN AT Depending on the region (Land), either an authorisation procedure or a 
notification procedure applie s: farmers intending to grow GM crops have to 
inform/apply at the competent authorit y, providing the information listed under 
1.1.1., including a proposal on segregation measures (guidance may be provided 
by the authorities, but is not yet available). An authorisation will be granted provided that the foreseen segregation measures will prevent contamination of non-GM fields. Further coexistence meas ures may be required. Insurance cover 
or, alternatively, comparable financial guarantees may be requested in some 
Länder. In the case of a notification pr ocedure approval must not be awaited by 
the GM crop grower, but the competent au thority may prohibit the cultivation or 
require specific condition to the cultiva tion of GM crops within a specified 
period of time. 
Flanders: There is a mandatory notifica tion procedure. If it is not followed, 
administrative fines are foreseen. The cultivation of the GM crop is, however, never prohibited. Farmers not complying with  the legislation are, in addition to 
administrative fines, held individually responsible for all resulting damage, and the compensation fund will not intervene. 
BE Wallonia: Registration of the GM crop to  the control authorities is mandatory. 
No possibility for the authorities to prohi bit cultivation if the required documents 
are provided by the GM crop grower. An a pplying farmer has the possibility the 
complete his dossier in a given period, to be determined by crop according to cultivation practices. 
CY (Draft legislation) Until now, the rules for experimental releases of GMOs also 
apply for commercial production of GM crops. Thus, the following information 
need to be submitted to the Scientific Committee: a technical dossier which includes a risk assessment study concerni ng the environment and human health, a 
description of the methods to be imple mented for the GM crop cultivation, 
references to bibliography, a monitori ng programme, information concerning 
prior applications or aut horisations. The dossier is evaluated by a Scientific 
Committee that submits a reasoned opinion to the Minister of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources and Environment fo r a decision within 90 days.   
CZ No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
DE No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
DK Farmers have to report the cultivation of GM crops to the authorities. In addition, 
the farmers must pay 100 Danish kroner (~  € 13) per hectare with GM crops as a 
contribution to the compensation fund. Ther e is no further au thorisation involved 
in this procedure and the public. Aut horities cannot prohibit the GM crop 
cultivation. But farmers who want to grow GM crops have to be educated before 
                                                                                                                                                         
notification procedure cultivation of GM crops is allo wed provided that public authorities are informed. 
Please indicate whether public authorities have the po ssibility to prohibit the cultivation within a certain 
time period after notification. 
 
EN 18   EN they can be approved to gr ow them (see point 1.1.6). 
EE (Draft measures) Notification pr ocedure, and obligatory training 
ES No mandatory authorisation is needed and no mandatory notification procedure 
beyond what is listed under point 1.1.1. 
FI (Draft measures) The GM crop growers sh all give a prior notification of their 
plans for GM crop cultivation. Formally, there is no authorization required, but there is an obligatory training requi rement. Authorities cannot delay or 
temporarily prohibit the GM crop cultivation, provided the legal requirements are 
fulfilled by the notifying grower. 
FR No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
HU An authorisation procedure applies. Farmers have to ask for permission from the 
competent authority to grow GM crops at least 90 days before the foreseen date of sowing. They also have to provide th e certificate, whic h proves that they 
participated in the coexistence course. After the examination of the application, the competent authority may issue a prel iminary cultivation consent in which it 
determines the isolation distance and ot her cultivation conditions, if necessary. 
After the receipt of the pr eliminary consent, the farmer has to obtain written 
declarations of all neighbour s within the isolation di stance on approval of the 
GMO cultivation. All written approvals ha ve to be sent to the competent 
authority no later than 20 days befo re the foreseen date of sowing. The 
competent authority makes its final decisi on on the cultivation within 15 days. In 
the absence of declarations, no cu ltivation consent may be granted. 
IR (Draft measures) An authorisation pro cedure applies. GM crop growers must 
receive approval by the DAFF. Framers have  to provide a written agreement in 
cases of shared isolation distances, verification of rotation and evidence of 
formal training 
IT (Draft measures) An authorisati on procedure applies (see point 1.1.1.).  
LT An authorisation procedure applies. Cond itions to meet to obtain an approval: 
attendance to a special training course, re gistration of the agricultural and rural 
holding in the Agricultural and Rural Business Register of the Republic of 
Lithuania, information of ministries (s ee above), coordination of the plans for 
crop rotation and cultivation of GM crops  with control bodies (State Seed and 
Grain Service under the Ministry of Agricu lture, State Plant Protection Service). 
LU No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
LV An authorisation procedure applies, dependent on the following conditions: 1. 
acquisition of at least vocational initial education in agriculture; 2. acquisition of the training programme for GM crops; 3. completion of a course regarding the 
requirements specified in the regulatory en actments of Latvia and the EU with 
regard to GMOs and coexistence, if a training programme has been acquired in 
 
EN 19   EN another Member State; 4. registration in the Register of GM  crop growers; 5. 
non-conviction for breaching regulatory enact ments regarding the cultivation of 
GM crops in the two previous years prior to commencement of GM crop cultivation. 
NL No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
PL Measures not yet determined  
PT No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
RO An authorisation procedure applies. GM  crops can only be grown by farmers 
authorised by the Ministry of Agricu lture and Rural Development through the 
county ARDD. The documents which s hould be submitted are described under 
point 1.1.1.  
SI (Draft measures) An authorisation pro cedure applies. If the producer of GM 
crops (according to the data submitted w ith the application) meets all necessary 
measures for coexistence, he is inscribe d into the register of GM crops producer 
by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. 
SK A notification procedure applies. Farmers who intend to grow GM crops have to 
inform the UKSUP on prescribed form  providing the information listed under 
point 1.1.1. The farmer will be listed in a database. In the year of GM crop production the farmer has to inform, by a certain date, UKSUP and the 
neighbouring field users about his intenti on to cultivate GM crops. A statement 
about the information of neighbours and a technical plan for the cultivation of GM crops shall be added to the notification. 
SV No mandatory authorisation or notificati on procedure beyond what is listed under 
point 1.1.1. 
 
1.1.6.  Requirements on mandatory training to  demonstrate a minimum level of 
knowledge or education for operators dealing with GMOs 
AT In some regions (Länder), no such requi rements exist. In one region, GM crop 
growers have to provide a written decl aration about sufficient knowledge to 
prevent an inappropriate use of GMOs a nd to apply the necessary precautionary 
measures. In other regions, public author ities may request a pr oof of professional 
expertise in using GM crops in order to grant an authorisation for the cultivation 
of GM crops. 
BE Flanders: GM crop growers need to prove education by adding an acknowledged 
certificate with its mandatory notificati on to the authority. Contractors shall 
prove education by means of an acknowle dged certificate to the delegating 
(commissioning) farmer. The Flemish Government will determine the minimum period and content of the training and th e validity of the training certificate. 
 
EN 20   EN Wallonia: No specific requirements 
CY No such requirements 
CZ No such requirements 
DE No such requirements. However, farmer s or other people who deal with GM 
plants are generally required  to have suitable knowledge. 
DK Farmers who want to cultivate GM crops  must be educated specifically in 
coexistence rules and methods how to prev ent the spreading of  GM seeds, pollen 
and crops. The education shall be give n by an education provider that is 
approved by the Danish Plant Directorate.  When the training is completed the 
farmer will receive an official approval. The training is a one day course. Also, employees on a farm and owners or employees on agricultural supply service agencies and transport companies that handle GM seeds or GM crops must be educated. After completion of the training the handler will receive a certificate from the Danish Plant Directorate. The c ourse will typically last half a day and 
contain information about coexistence ru les and cleaning of equipment in order 
to prevent spreading of GM seeds, pollen and crops.  
EE (Draft measures) The person in charge of handling GM crops and the employer 
of an enterprise dealing with the handling of GM cr ops have to pass a training 
about handling GM crops and they have to  have a certificate to prove passing the 
training. 
ES (Draft measures) The public authoriti es will promote non-mandatory training 
courses and advice farmers on GM crops, co-existence measures, labelling and 
traceability.  
FI (Draft measures) The GM crop grower or the person responsible for the GM crop 
cultivation has to pass an examination organized by the Finnish Food Safety 
Authority Evira. In the ex amination, safe and appropr iate command of GM crop 
cultivation and knowledge of the statutory requirements are to be demonstrated.  
FR No such requirements 
HU There is a mandatory training for farmers who intend to cultivate GMOs. The 
training is an accredited c ourse. The certificate which proves that the farmer 
participated in the coexis tence course should also be  sent to the competent 
authority when applying for cultivation of  GM crops. There is further mandatory 
education every 5 years in order to provi de farmers with updated information on 
coexistence. 
IR (Draft measures) GM crop growers must  obtain formal training. Training for 
other parties is voluntar y. The training programme is to be formulated by 
extension services. 
IT (Draft measures) GM crop growers and ope rators of the food chain using GMOs 
have to obtain a licence delivered by the Region, which can be received after the 
 
EN 21   EN participation to a course on coexistence measures. 
LT GM crop growers must attend the special training course and keep the issued 
certificate of the established form. 
LU  No such requirements 
LV GM crop growers must 1. have acquired at  least vocational initial education in 
agriculture; 2. have acqui red the training programm e for GM crops; 3. have 
completed a course regarding the requi rements specified in the regulatory 
enactments of Latvia and the EU with regard to GMOs and coexistence, if a training programme has been acquire d in another Member State.  
NL (Draft measures) A compulsory course for GM crop growers and operators is 
currently under construction. 
PL (Draft legislation) Obligatory tr aining for farmers is not foreseen. 
PT Farmers must attend a training course be fore starting to cultivate GM crops for 
the first time, which covers general information about GMOs, the national 
regulation on coexistence, and the EU legislation regardi ng traceability and 
labeling. DGADR conducts training and ce rtification to prepare trainers 
belonging to farmers' organizations or  seed companies. Between 2005, when 
these training classes were started, a nd December 2007, a total of 154 technicians 
have been trained and certified to act as trainers for the farmers. These training 
sessions can be organised by the s eed companies, or by the farmers 
organisations.  
RO The legislation does not provide for ma ndatory training of GM crop growers. 
However, as a need to train farmers in order to observe the GMO legislation, has 
been seen in practice, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 
expects the ARRD county offi ce to provide the farmers wi th training concerning 
these aspects when authorising them to plant GM crops. There is also a mutual 
agreement between the Ministry of Agri culture and Rural Development and the 
seed companies in order to provide stew ardship together with  the products they 
deliver. These concern the main provisions  of the GMO legislation and technical 
segregation measures.  
SI (Draft measures) The Act demands spec ial professional training for GM crop 
grower that will be perf ormed by providers appointed  pursuant to the Act. 
Professional training for a GM crop grower shall be implemented by a training 
provider according to a programme that  encompasses a course and a written 
examination in the field of GMO mana gement and coexistence. The training 
must be renewed every five years. 
SK Farmers responsible for growing GM crops have to attend a training course in the 
handling of GM crops before registra tion and receive a tr aining certificate. 
SV No such requirements 
 
 
EN 22   EN 1.1.7.  Provisions on record keeping for GM crop growers (this section does not 
consider obligations unde r Community legislation, notably Regulation (EC) 
No 1830/2003) 
AT No specific provision s on record keeping 
Flanders: Farmers shall keep data as to be laid down by the Flemish Government 
for the cultivated varieties, the cultivati on process and the transport to the first 
storage. The farmer shall make this data available at the request of the competent 
authority for a period still to be la id down by the Flemish Government. 
BE Wallonia: Not yet defined. But the decree gives the possibility to establish an 
obligation to keep record of any information that can be useful for coexistence management.  
CY (Draft measures) No specific provisions on record keeping 
CZ GM crop growers have to keep informa tion about the crop (species, variety, 
unique identification code of GMO), the field (iden tification number, area, 
plotting of GM crop in the map at a scale of 1:10 000 or at a scale more detailed 
in case that the area of GM crop is not id entical with the land block, information 
about the fact, if the buffer zone was ca rried out, including its extent), the timing 
(sowing date, harvesting date), the qua ntity (purchased seed, sown seed, 
harvested product), the supplier (identific ation of the seed seller), and the 
handling with the final produc t (place of the storage, date and quantity of the 
purchase of harvested product (incl. identi fication of the purchaser), data on the 
way of use of the product which has not been sold). 
DE GM crop growers shall keep records rega rding the variety of the GM seed or 
planting material, the types of operation, the application of certain substances, 
the plant husbandry measures and the species-specific requirements of the Annex to the Act. Records have to be kept for at least five years and shall be submitted to the competent author ity under the law of the Land  in question on demand.  
DK GM crop growers shall keep records in order to prove that  the obligation of 
informing the neighbours about the GM cropping is fulfilled. If the GM crop 
grower has made an agreement with his neighbour to cultivate GM crops closer to the neighbouring field th an laid down in the coexis tence rules, he needs to 
record the agreement. Regarding the sale of areas, on which GM crops have been 
cultivated and equipment, which has been used to handle GM crops the seller should be able to prove that he has in formed the buyer about the GMO activities. 
EE (Draft measures) The Plant Production Insp ectorate keeps a r ecord of GM crop 
growers. The data of given certificates and documents forming the basis of those 
certificates are kept by the supervisory au thority for ten years. The handler keeps 
a precise record about fulfilling handling requirements. Documents regarding handling and the provision of inform ation will be kept for ten years. 
ES (Current situation) GM crop growers have to  keep the labels of the seed bags and 
packages for a period of 5 years and inform, in written, the operator buying the harvest about the species, the variety, the genetic modification and the unique 
 
EN 23   EN identifier of the GM seed. 
FI (Draft measures) GM crop growers have to keep records of the information 
necessary for verifying that the measur es for general diligence and appropriate 
technical requirements asked for in the draft coexistence law have been duly 
obeyed. Such records shall contain adequa te information on the cultivation and 
storage of GM plant materials, acquisiti ons and deliveries. The records shall be 
retained for five years. 
FR There are no specific provisions on reco rd keeping for GM crop growers in the 
law. This may be considered in the Order. 
HU GM crop growers should keep record on cul tivation measures such as the date of 
the sowing/harvesting, crop rotation, and on yields. Info rmation should be kept 
on transporting as well as on storage. All measures in order to prevent admixture 
including crop rotation, clea ning of the machinery/st ock should be registered. 
The records should be kept for 5 years. 
IR (Draft measures) All records are to be retained and available for inspection for 
five years. 
IT (Draft measures) No specific provisions on record keeping 
LT GM crop growers must keep  a strict register on GM crop maintenance, 
transportation and storage, which must be kept for 6 years. 
LU No specific provision s on record keeping 
LV GM crop growers shall (1) maintain a fiel d history regarding al l fields (including 
the leased) used in agricultural production; (2) maintain documentation regarding the origin, variety, category, quality and qua ntity of the used s eeds; and (3) keep 
all documentation and notes regarding the cultivation of GM crops and the circulation of the obtained products for six years.  
NL No specific provision s on record keeping 
PL  Measures not yet determined 
PT GM crop growers must keep, besides the c opy of the notification form sent to 
official services, an official seed label of  each seed lot of the GM variety sown in 
is farm and also a copy of the document used to ensure the correct labelling and traceability of the product.  
RO GM crop growers have to keep the Author isation Certificate and a copy of the 
statement submitted to the ARDD concerning the cultivated surface, seed origin, 
and used varieties for five years. After harvesting, they are obliged to fill in a two-copy statement concerning the obtaine d production and its destination. One 
copy shall be submitted to the ARDD until 1
th December, and the other shall be 
kept in the same file mentioned above. GM crop growers are obliged to establish, 
at their place of residence or headquarters , a register concerni ng the seeds' origin 
and production destination re sulting from GM plants; in this register all 
 
EN 24   EN information shall be kept for 5 years. 
SI GM crop growers must keep records of  GM crop cultivation in a specific 
cultivation period, which must contain the cultivation plan, with the buffer, 
retention and refuge zones marked, and data on: (a) the propagating material 
used for the cultivation of GM crops (species, variety, unique identifier, quantity of purchased and used propagating material ), and its origin (distributor that 
supplied the propagating material); (b ) the quantity of unused propagating 
material (quantity, eventual storage, the return of unused seed to the distributor, 
methods used to destroy it); (c) the actu al surface area on which GM crops were 
cultivated, and the surface area of any refuge zone; (d) the date of sowing, 
planting or transplanting of  GM crops; (e) the work done with the machinery, 
device, equipment, transport or other mean s, which are not in his property or use 
(type  and date of work, property of  machinery and equipment) (f) special 
features of GM crop cultivation during growth; (g) the date of harvesting of the product and the product quantity; (h) the met hod used to store, use or dispose of 
the GM crop product. A GM crop producer must keep the data from the records, proofs of purchase of seed material, and the official labels used to label GM crop 
propagating material for at least five year s from the year the records were created 
or proof obtained, and in the case of GM crops that are perennial agricultural 
plants, for at least five years from the y ear that they ceased to cultivate these GM 
crops. 
SK GM crop growers are obliged to keep records in a prescribed form on the 
following information: amount of propaga ting material purchased, amount of 
propagating material used for cultivat ion, yield, handling procedure with the 
harvested material, amount of un-used pr opagating material. This information, 
together with the technical plan for the cultivation of GM cr ops, has to be kept 
for 5 years. 
SV No specific provision s on record keeping 
 
 
1.2. Technical segregation measures 
1.2.1.  Maximum tolerance level of GMO admi xture in non-GM production that was 
taken into account to derive the requi red segregation measures between GM 
and non-GM production 
AT So far, technical guidelines  have not yet been developed. 
BE Flanders: 0.9 %  
 Wallonia: Not yet defined.  
CZ In order to ensure that the labelling threshold at the level of 0.9 % is not 
exceeded throughout the entire food and feed processing chain, segregation 
measures at farm level were defined to  limit GMO admixture to a maximum of 
 
EN 25   EN about 0.5 %, taking account of  the possibility of furthe r post-harvest admixture. 
DE 0.9 % 
DK 0.9 % for crop production. For seed production  the tolerance le vels originally 
proposed by the Standing Committee of Seed were used. 
EE 0.9 % for crop production. For seed production 0 %.  
ES 0.9 % 
FI Not yet defined 
FR 0.9 % 
HU Coexistence measures and rules should be  able to prevent a ny contamination or 
commingling of GM plants with plants grown by conventional and/or ecological 
farming methods.  
IR (Draft measures) Oilseed rape = 0.3 %; Maize = 0.5 %; Potatoes = 0.5 % 
IT (Draft measures) For maize two levels of  tolerance apply: < 0.01% to guarantee 
the absence of GMO contamination and 0.9 % to guarantee compliance with the 
law on conventional production. For soya only one level applies: < 0.01%. The 
Regions may choose the areas where to ap ply the different le vels of tolerance 
and the corresponding segregation measures. 
LT 0.9 % 
LU Not specified 
LV 0.9 % 
NL 0.9 % 
PL Not yet defined 
PT The aim of the technical measures is to  reduce the adventitious presence of GMO 
to the lowest possible level. But fo r obtaining compensation for economic 
damage due to the adventitious presence of GMOs the threshold is fixed at 0.9 
%. 
RO 0.9 % 
SI The specific measures for individual plant species will be pr ovided in secondary 
legislation. The specialized drafts of individual regu lations will be prepared 
considering the maximum tolerance level of GMO admixture is 0.9 %. 
SK 0.9 % 
SV 0.9 %. It was assumed that the seed  for sowing could consist of 0.5 % GMOs. 
 
EN 26   EN  
1.2.2.  Spatial segregation measures applying to segregate fields with GM crops from 
other fields or from other areas.  
AT Not yet defined 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: Not yet defined 
CZ Isolation distances and/or buffer zone s are requested. Other parameters (as 
different flowering times) can be voluntar y used by farmers. Isolation distances 
for maize are 70 m towards non-GM conve ntional and 200 m towards organic 
maize fields. Buffer strips of one row of conventional maize (around Bt maize) 
replace 2 m of isolation distance. The ma ize in the buffer strip must be handled 
as a GM crop. For potatoes, isolation distances are between three m and 10 m 
(depending on the orientation of the cu ltivation lines) towa rds conventional and 
20 m towards organic potato fields.  
DE For GM maize a minimum isolati on distance of 150 m towards non-GM 
conventional maize fields and of 300 m towards organic maize fields. The 
grower shall take appropriate measures to  prevent the significant impairment of 
areas on which maize is cultivated that is not GM and is intended to be used for seed. No environmental or other parameters are taken into account. 
DK Segregation is based on isolation dist ances. No environmental or other 
parameters are taken into account. Segrega tion measures to segregate fields with 
GM crops from fields with conventi onal and organic crops are identical. 
However, measures for GM crop produc tion and for GM seed production are 
different. Isolation distances to crop fields are for mai ze: 150 m; for potato: 10 
m; and for beet 20 m. 
EE (Draft measures) Segregation will be based on isolation distances and buffer 
zones.  
ES Not yet defined 
FI (Draft measures) Spatial segregation is pr incipally based on isolation distance. If 
further technical measures prove useful  for certain species, more detailed 
requirements can be given species-speci fically. Possible adaptations to local 
conditions can be introduced by mini sterial decree for any given species. 
FR (Draft measures) The cultivation of GMOs is subject to technical conditions, 
including isolation distances . The technical conditions wi ll be established in a 
Ministerial Order. 
HU The competent authority defines the isolation distance as well as other cultivation 
conditions if necessary, including separate  field margin harvesting or sowing of 
conventional border rows. The minimum is olation distance for maize is 400 
meters. There are no separate isolation distances for conventional or organic 
 
EN 27   EN farming or for non-GM seed production. The minimum isolation distance is 
legally defined. However, the competent authority may – based on local natural, 
geographical and other particul arities influencing the cultivation activity – at its 
sole discretion, establish an isola tion distance exceeding the minimum.  
IR (Draft measures) Segregation is base d on isolation distances only. Proposed 
isolation distances: Oilseed rape: not  yet specified. Maize: 50 m towards 
conventional and 75 m towards organi c maize fields. Potatoes: 20-40 m 
depending on the category. No environmental or other parameters are taken into account. Isolation distances to  organic fields are increa sed by 50 % compared to 
conventional production and those to seed production fields are doubled.  
IT (Draft measures) Spatial segregation measures cons ist in: compulsory border 
rows with non-GM crop, isolation distances, and possible additional border rows with a consequent reduction of the isol ation distance. For insect resistant GM 
crops 20 % of the cultivated area has to be planted w ith non-GM as refuge-areas. 
Regions may consider areas with par ticular climatic conditions (windy or 
extreme and cyclical weathe r conditions), where the dist ances can be tripled, or 
only doubled if there are suitable wind-brea ks or other measures to reduce the 
wind speed and the dispersion of GM material.  
LT A buffer zone of three meters must be established around GM crops where 
conventional plants of the same species  as the GM crops are cultivated and 
maintained in the same way as the GM crops. Isolation distances are set for sugar beet (50 m), fodder beet (50 m), wheat (50 m), maize (200 m), potatoes (20 m), 
rapeseed (4000 m), and cross-fertilizi ng grain (500 m). For fodder beet the 
isolation distance towards non-GM  seed fields is 1000 m.  
LU Segregation is based on isolation di stances only. The following isolation 
distances apply: maize: 600 m; potato:  50 m; beet: 100 m towards non-GM crop 
fields and 2000 m towards non- GM seed production fields. 
LV Segregation measures consist of isolati on distances and buffer zones. Isolation 
distances are the following: maize: 200 m; beet: 200 m to non-GM crop fields 
and 1000 m to non-GM seed production fiel ds; potatoes: 50 m; oilseed rape: 
4000 m. In addition, the following buffer z ones apply: maize: 1.8 m; beet: 2 m; 
potatoes: 1.3 m; oilseed rape: 3 m. Furthe rmore, it must be ensured that the seeds 
of GM crops do not mix with the seeds for organic and conventional farming in 
the process of preparation and packing of seeds. No environmental or other 
parameters are taken into account. 
NL The following isolation distances appl y towards non-GM conventional fields: 
potato: 3 m; sugar beet: 1.5 m; maize: 25 m. The following isolation distances 
apply towards GMO-free fields  (i.e. organic fields and production under contract 
for GMO absence): potato: 10 m; sugar beet: 3 m; maize: 250 m. 
PL  Measures not yet determined 
PT Segregation measures include minimu m isolation distances (maize: 200 m 
towards conventional maize fields or 300 me tres towards organic maize fields or 
where products must comply with certain  specific and contractually established 
 
EN 28   EN conditions with regard to the thresholds  of unintended presence of GMOs). These 
distances may be replaced completely by border rows of at least 24 rows (towards conventional fields) or, to a mi nimum of 50 metres by border rows of at 
least 28 rows (towards organic fields). For insect tolerant GM variety refuge 
areas must be established that are sown with conventional vari eties and cover at 
least 20 % of the total area sown with the GM variety. This band may be also 
used as a buffer zone. The product obtained from the borders must be included in the product from the GM variety and be la belled as such. The va riety to be used 
in the border must have the same  plant cycle as the GM variety. 
Use of different plant cycles and/or staggered sowing: Staggered sowing or 
varieties of different FAO classes may be used: If the varieties of maize of the 
same FAO class are sown at a minimum interval of 20 days; and/or if the 
varieties of maize are sown simultaneous ly, the difference between the respective 
plant cycles must be at least two FAO classes. 
Measures to minimise the unintended pr esence of mechanical mixtures: Seed 
packaging: When preparing for sowing and when sowing, the seed packaging of different varieties must be clearly separa ted and located in different areas of the 
store, particularly for GM varieties;  at the end of the season, unused seed 
packaging which has been opened must be  sealed and identified. Use of seed 
drill, combine harvester, dryer and other equipment: All equipment must 
preferably be used by farmers dedicated to the same production system; in order to avoid the dispersal and mixture of grain from the previous operation, where 
different production systems are used, seed  drills, combine harvesters, dryers and 
other equipment used must be carefully  cleaned after being used in fields 
cultivated with GM varieties. Combine harvesters, when shared with other farmers dedicated to other production systems or when used by the same farmer to harvest conventional vari eties, must, after harvesti ng a field cultivated with a 
GM variety, harvest at least an area of 2 000 m
2 of a conventional variety whose 
production will be labelled as GM.  
Storage, transport and identification of  products produced: The farmer must 
guarantee the physical separation of ma ize lots produced using different 
production systems, from their harvesting to their storage or  delivery to the 
marketing or processing installations; Mai ze lots of GM varieties must refer to 
the variety and uni que identifier.  
Farmers may be exempted from having to apply the measures to minimise the 
unintended presence of polle n or mechanical mixtures if they voluntarily join 
together to create produc tion areas exclusively dedica ted to the cultivation of 
GM varieties deriving from the same  GMO; or when agricultural products 
produced on a particular farm or in a pa rticular region, both fr om GM varieties, 
whether or not deriving from the same GMO, and from conventional varieties, 
are intended to be mixed in lots to be  labelled as GM. In areas bordering a 
production area, farmers cultivating GM vari eties must comply with the technical 
measures established in the legislation. 
RO Minimum isolation distances have to be  respected (for maize: 200 m). Further 
measures include the creation of a bu ffer area and staggered sowing time.  
 
EN 29   EN During crop harvest, transport, stor age and conditioning of GM production, 
operators shall take all necessary measures to prevent the physical mixture of the GM products with non-GM production: sepa rate storage, cleaning of sowing and 
conditioning machines, means of transpor t, according to st andards for seed 
production. 
SI The isolation distances and buffer zones ar e foreseen by the legislation in place. 
Details will be defined in secondary le gislation. Farmers may also choose to use 
other measures in cultivating GM crops. There are no different segregation measures planned to segregate fields w ith GM crops from fields with non-GM 
crops and non-GM seeds. The possibility to have different isolation distances and 
buffer zones towards organic and conventional farming is still a matter of debate. 
SK Isolation distances have to  be respected to non-GM fi elds of the same species, 
which are for maize 200 m towards c onventional crops and 300 m towards 
organic crops. Isolation di stances can be replaced by buffer strips. For maize, 1 
line of buffer strips (non-GM maize) re place 2 m of isolation distance. Buffer 
strips must consist of 6 lines as a minimu m. The buffers trip is harvested together 
with GM production and marked as GM. Fo r maize, it is also possible to use 
different maturity classes in  agreement with the neighbour. 
SV Detailed segregation measures have only been set for maize and potatoes. 
Isolation distance to non-GM fields of the same species have to be respected 
(Potatoes: 3 m, maize: 50 m). The SBA can grant exceptions from the distances 
if there would be e.g. geographical or  other aspects that could be found 
reasonable. For seed production, the general seed production rules apply. 
 
1.2.3.  Operators responsible for the implemen tation of the segregation measures 
AT GM crop growers have the responsibility for the implementation of segregation 
measures. No specific rules have been  defined for non-GM seed production. 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: Primarily, the GM  crop grower is responsible for the 
implementation of the segregation measures . Secondly, also contractors will have 
certain obligations. Non-GM crop grow ers also have limited obligations 
CZ GM crop growers are responsible for applying segregation measures. Seed 
producers (according to seed legislatio n) are responsible for segregation 
measures for the production of seeds. 
DE GM crop growers are responsible for implementing segregation measures. In the 
case of non-GM seed production the seed producers are responsible for 
implementation of appropriate additional measures. 
DK Generally, the producers of GM crops are re sponsible. In a coexistence situation 
with non-GM seed production it would sti ll be the responsibility of the GM crop 
producer to implement the coexistence ru les, whereas the non-GM seed producer 
would be responsible for adhering to the general seed production rules as usual. 
 
EN 30   EN EE (Draft measures) Any person, who commerci ally cultivates, handles or transports 
GM crops, shall ensure that vehicles, m achinery, materials, etc. used for sowing, 
harvesting, transporting, et c. GM crops are cleaned so that no dispersal to 
conventional or organic crops can take place. Storage facilities that have been used to store GM crops shall be cleaned before being used to  store conventional 
or organic crops. 
ES (Current situation) GM crop growers ar e not obliged to implement mandatory 
segregation measures. However, GM crop growers have to use certified seeds 
and must apply the good agricultural pr actices and recommendations given by 
the seed providers. Farmers wishing to obtain a GMO-free harvest have to adopt 
the appropriate segregation measures . Seed producers are responsible to 
implement measures to comply with the varietal and GM impurities. The isolation distances stipulated in the s eeds Directives are considered to be 
sufficient to comply with seed  thresholds if they were se t at levels different from 
zero.  
(Draft measures) GM crop growers will be responsible for implementing 
segregation measures.  
FI (Draft measures) The GM crop grower is the sole actor responsible for fulfilling 
the statutory isolation distances. All actors involved in the actions within the scope of the draft law shall fulfil the general requirements of diligence, segregation, cleaning etc in  the handling, storage and tr ansportation of GM plant 
materials, as imposed in the draft law. In  general, seed producers are not treated 
differently from other growers in th e draft law (however, see point 1.4.1).  
FR GM crop growers are responsible for th e implementation of the segregation 
measures. The rules concerning the non- GM seed producti on are unchanged. 
There are no specific rules in case of s eed coexistence with a GM crop grower. 
HU GM crop growers are responsible for th e implementation of the segregation 
measures. If the isolation distance extends  the GM crop grower's field, a written 
declaration is required from the neighbours to agree with the GM crop cultivation. In this case, neighbours are al so responsible for not growing sexually 
compatible plants during the validity  of the GM crop cultivation consent. 
IR (Draft measures) GM crop growers are re sponsible for the implementation of the 
segregation measures. In a coexisten ce situation with non-GM seed production 
both the seed grower (standard certific ation requirements) and the GM crop 
grower are responsible. 
IT (Draft measures) Farmers and other operato rs mentioned in the coexistence plan 
are obliged to respect the measures contained therein.  
LT GM crop growers are responsible for compliance with isolation distances and 
have the responsibility in  a coexistence situation with non-GM seed production 
as well. 
LU GM crop growers are responsible for th e implementation of the segregation 
 
EN 31   EN measures. 
LV GM crop growers are responsible for the implementation of segregation 
measures. 
NL GM crop growers are responsible for th e implementation of the segregation 
measures, also in the case of co existence with seed production. 
PL Measures not yet determined 
PT The GM crop grower is responsible for the implementation of the segregation 
measures. In case of seed production is up to  the seed producer to fulfil the seed 
requirements rules in conjunction with th e farmer cultivating GM varieties.  
RO GM crop growers are responsible for the implementation of segregation 
measures. 
SI (Draft measures) The GM crop grower is responsible for the implementation of 
the segregation measures. The isolati on distance between GM crops and non-GM 
seed production will be identical to the di stance between crop fields and fields 
for seed production.  
SK GM crop growers are responsible for the implementation of segregation 
measures. 
SV The coexistence legislation is directed towards operators that is or will grow 
and/or handle GM crops. According to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, to determine GMO admixture to be adve ntitious or technically unavoidable, 
operators must be in a position to s upply evidence to satisfy the competent 
authority that they have taken appropriat e steps to avoid presence of GM material 
above the threshold of 0.9 %. This means, for example, that farmers or other operators have the responsibility to be  cautious when, for example, sharing 
equipment or storage fascilities.  
 
1.2.4.  Measures required during seed handli ng, seeding, cultivation (other than 
spatial segregation measures), harves t, post-harvest operations, transport, 
storage and further processing  
AT Measures not yet determined 
BE Flanders: Measures  not yet determined 
 Wallonia: Measures not yet determined 
CZ No specific coexistence measures apply.  
DE In order to protect against dispersal into external plots of land, especially by 
means of the effects of th e weather or conveyance by animals, the grower shall 
store (1) GM seed or planting material  in sealed or t horoughly well covered 
containers and separate from non-GM seed or planting material of the same kind, 
 
EN 32   EN (2) harvested produce of GM plants – wh ere these contain parts capable of re-
production – in sealed storerooms or such  that they are t horoughly well covered. 
The containers and storerooms shall be labelled. If the harvested produce is 
stored on a plot of land registered in the federal site register for GMOs, the 
labelling is not obligatory. 
Transport: In order to protect against dispersal into external plots of land, 
especially by means of dispersal by wind, the grower shall transport (1) GM seed 
and planting material in s ealed containers, (2) harveste d produce of GM plants – 
where these contain parts capable of re-p roduction – in sealed vehicles or, when 
transported on vehicles with open loadi ng areas, such that they are thoroughly 
well covered. If GM seed, planting material or harv ested produce are spilled 
during loading or transport it must be added back to the same seed, planting 
material or harvested produce, se parately utilised  or destroyed. 
Cultivation measures: In the course of all cultivation measures, including 
harvesting, a suitable technique shall be used to keep dispersal of GM produce 
into external plots of land to the minimum possible level.  
Objects employed: The GM crop grower shall diligently clean facilities, 
machinery and equipment employed in the sowing, harvesti ng, processing or 
transport of seed, planting material or  harvested produce that has been GM 
before they are used for seed, planting ma terial or harvested produce that has not 
been GM. 
DK No specific measures between GM crops, but cultivation intervals between GM 
and non-GM crops and volunteer and bolter control for certain crops. 
EE (Draft measures) See point 1.2.3. A party, who acquires or otherwise takes over 
the right to use land, on which GM crops  have been cultivated, shall assume 
responsibility for control of volunteers and the duty to maintain the cultivation 
intervals laid down for the crop concerned. 
ES (Current situation) GM crop growers have  to use certified seeds to guarantee the 
purity and quality of the harvest. Fa rmer must apply the good agricultural 
practices and recommendations given by the seed marketers. The technical 
guidelines agreed with the seed producer s association (APROS E) and distributed 
amongst farmers recommend growing conve ntional maize refuges for Bt maize 
fields larger than 5 hect ares (prevention of resist ance against Bt maize), and 
measures to control a dventitious plants.  
(Draft measures) It is planned, amongst others, to request GM crop growers to 
implement the following measures: (a) dur ing cultivation: is olation distances, 
buffer zones, refuge zones, pollen barri ers, appropriate crop rotation, volunteer 
control, programme of the crop production cycle, soil tillage to reduce GM seed banks, use of varieties with  reduced pollen production or  with sterility, sowing 
machinery cleaning before and after bei ng used by GM growers, careful sorting, 
processing, packaging, labelling and segreg ated storage of GM seeds; (b) during 
harvest: machinery cleaning before and after harvesting, sharing of harvesting 
machinery between farmers cultivating the same production type, reducing harvesting losses (e.g. maize grains);  (c) during transport and storage: 
 
EN 33   EN segregation during transport and stor age of GM and non-GM harvest.   
FI (Draft measures) General measures for segregation in storage, cleaning of 
equipment and facilities in common use etc.  are given in the draft law. Measures 
to be followed after GM crop cultivati on (e.g. ways of tilling, weed and volunteer 
control, time interval required before non-GM crop cultivation with the same 
species is allowed) are dependent on the plant species and shall be determined at the level of species-specific Decrees. 
FR (Draft measures) According to the law, harvest, transport and storage of GMOs 
will be subjected to techni cal conditions. These conditions will be defined in a 
Ministerial Order. 
HU Growers with a licence to grow GM pl ants must comply with the following 
provisions regarding the pr oduction of GM crops: (a ) application of crop 
rotation, (b) co-ordination of production cycle with neighbour ing growers, (c) 
elimination of volunteers, in the year or years following th e production cycle on 
cases where it can cause economical dama ge, (d) the roads, sides, ditches 
bordering the field, the floor areas and storage places must be kept clean and 
tidy, (e) in order to prevent any admixt ure between the conventional and organic 
crops with GM crops, the machinery and tools used for growing and harvesting 
must be kept clean, and special attention must be given to clean the tools after 
they were used to work with GM crops, including the disposal of cleaning waste. 
The grower and those who are involved in  storage and delivery must (a) in the 
case of storing GM crops, prevent any ad mixture with other crops or products, 
and by doing so, in particular, arrange a physical separation from other crops and 
thoroughly clean the warehouses, bins, and other storage places used for GM crops after the product was removed, includ ing the disposal of cleaning waste, 
(b) in the case of the delivery of GM crops, prevent losses, leakage, and admixture with other products, and by doi ng so, in particular, arrange a physical 
separation from other products and thoroughly clean the vehicles or tanks used to 
deliver GM crops, including the disposal of cleaning waste. 
IR (Draft measures) All of the above is to be carried out to a Code of Good 
Agricultural Practice 
IT (Draft measures) The following measures a pply: (1) GM seeds have to be stored 
in separated rooms and in whole packages  and appropriately labelled. GM seeds 
have to be transported in closed transporters. (2) Seed-drills and harvesting 
machinery used for GM crop cultivation have to be cleaned immediately and 
carefully after the seeding or harvesting operations and must be identifiable in 
specific registers. In the case of shared  use among several farmers the machinery 
can, within the same season, not be used for non-GM seeds. (3) GM and non-GM products have to be kept separate during transport, storage, processing and other 
operations carried out with GM products up to the first point of sale and with the 
use of machines seasonally  reserved for either type  of production and clearly 
identifiable by specific registers. 
Where two sexually compatible GM events  are cultivated on the same farm or on 
neighbouring farms at the same moment, to minimize the risk of generating a 
 
EN 34   EN descendant which has an increased rate  of the transgenic protein and/or a 
combination of events not authorized, the Region or the Autonomous Province will be able to establish mandatory isolation distances between corresponding 
fields. Damage originating from the intrusion of wild animals into GM crop fields, where part of th e production (including non-ma ture production) has been 
removed, has to be communicated imme diately to the Region as competent 
authority. Residues or other material re maining from GM production may not be 
removed or collected by non-authorized operators. The responsible for the GM 
crop cultivation has to take all useful precaution to avoi d intrusion into the GM 
field. Isolation distances have to be observed between GM crops and closed areas specifically created for the production of sexually compatible non-GM seeds. 
LT Sowing: Agricultural machinery and implem ents used for sowing GM crops must 
be cleaned when further used for sowi ng non-GM crops. GM seed in a package 
that was not used, but that may be used for other sowi ng seasons, must be sealed 
and entered into a register. In the regist er the GM crop growers must specify the 
sowing date, purpose of GM crop harvest, precise amount of th e seed sowed, the 
area sowed and the amount of unused seed.  
Cultivation: farmers may not in the same  year cultivate within the minimum 
isolation distance from the GM plants non- GM rapeseed or ot her plants of the 
cruciferous family of the same family, genus or species as the GM crop and non-GM cereals and beetroot of the same genus and species, an d non-GM potatoes, 
maize, soy and beetroot of the same speci es (these requirements shall not apply if 
the conventional plants mentioned therei n are cultivated and maintained as GM 
crops). Non-GM plants may be sowed w ithin the minimum isolation distance not 
earlier than before a crop-specific time interval. Buffer zones (planted with non-
GM crops of the same species) of at leas t three meters in width must be planted 
around GM crop fields. GM crops may not be  cultivated within a 5-km radius 
around apiaries. 
Harvest: Agricultural machinery and implements used for GM crop maintenance 
and GM crop harvesting must be cleane d. GM crops and their buffer zones must 
be carefully maintained and cleared of weeds. Fields where GM plants were cultivated must be mon itored during a specified minimum period, removing all 
sprouts. 
Transport: Vehicles used for transporta tion of GM harvests must be cleaned 
carefully after transportation of the said harvest when further used for 
transportation of non-GM crop harvests to  remove all residua l soil, seeds and 
plants. GM harvests must be  transported so as to avoi d spillage and the like and 
using special closed type vehicles for this purpose. 
Storage: GM harvests must be stor ed separately from non-GM products. 
Processing: Purifying, drying, loading and packing equipment should be used for 
processing of GM harvests exclusively, otherwise it must be cleaned. When 
loaded into or unloaded from storage, GM  harvests must be monitored to avoid 
spillage or damage to packages (if any) , in the case of which the area must be 
cleaned thoroughly. After the disposal of GM harvests, the premises must be 
cleaned thoroughly if further used for storage of non-GM products. 
 
EN 35   EN LU Sowing and harvesting machines must be cleaned. 
LV Volunteers of GM crops must be controlled if there is a risk of their out-crossing 
with non-GM crops, except for the cases when the owners or users of the neighbouring fields provide a written co-o rdination document stating that they do 
not object to an accidental admixture of GM crops. 
NL (Draft measures) Good agricu ltural practices and monitoring 
PL Measures not yet determined 
PT See point 1.2.2. At present, only technica l measures for maize are established, 
and for this species no specific measures for temporal cultivation intervals or post harvest operations are required. 
RO During harvest, transport, storage an d conditioning of GM crop production GM 
crop growers shall take all necessary meas ures to prevent the physical mixture of 
the GM products with non-GM production: separate storage, cleaning of the 
sowing machines, of the conditioning mach ines, means of tr ansportation. Seed 
legislation applies for the production of seed. Companies provide complex 
stewardship programs in view of comply ing with traceability rules (seed bag 
labelling, storage, techni cal guides). Farmers growing GM crops shall use 
certified seeds only. 
SI (Draft measures) If a GM crop producer also cultivates on the same agricultural 
holding non-GM plants of the same species as the GM crop, he must ensure that 
the GM crop propagating material is phys ically separated from the products of 
the non-GM plants before and during sowing or planti ng, and that the GM crop 
products are physically separated from th e products of the no n-GM plants during 
harvesting, transport, storage and processi ng, or that all non-GM plants of this 
species, and their products, are labelled  in accordance with the regulations 
governing the labelling of GMOs. For th e harvest, transport, storage or 
processing of GM crops, a producer must use machinery, installations, 
equipment and transport and other mean s other than those used for non-GM 
agricultural plants, or must, after each instance of their use with GM crops, 
subject them to deep cleaning. The GM  crop producers must take into the 
consideration the crop rotation and destr oy volunteer plants, if such measures 
will be provided in a regulatory Act. 
SK GM crop growers are obliged to observe  the isolation distances, destroy 
volunteers around the production field, and en sure the cleaning of all equipment, 
which was used in connection with GM seeds and GM production. Separate 
storage is required for GM seeds and pr oduction and non-GM material, as well as 
separate treatment and processing.. Two y ears after cultivation farmers have to 
monitor the vicinity of fi elds and destroy the living GM plants. Non-GM plants 
of the same species cannot be grown for two years on plots, where GM crops were cultivated. 
SV If GM potatoes have been cultivated on a field this information has to be passed 
on to any other farmer who will use that fi eld within the next two years. If the 
 
EN 36   EN next farmer is not known, the owner of the land has to be informed. Measures 
should be taken when transporting a GM cr op or product to ensu re that there is 
no risk of GMOs being spread to non- GM crops, which could cause economic 
damage as a result of labelling the affected products as GM. For the same reason vehicles, machinery, sorting equipment, to ols etc. must be cleaned prior to use 
with non-GM crops or products. 
 
1.2.5.  Application of segregation measures; Agreements between neighbours not to 
apply segregation measures 
Flanders: GM crop growers are also given the opportunity  to agree with 
neighbouring farmers within the notifica tion distance (being larger than the 
technical isolation distan ce) to commit to a buy up of  contaminated fields. 
Neighbouring operators can, unde r the condition that they did not appeal after the 
GM crop grower’s notificati on, agree not to apply segr egation measures, but only 
at their own risk and expense. If they appealed, based on a reasoned economic interest, and the appeal was accepted by the committee (evaluating the ‘reasoned 
economic interest’), the risk and compen sation for any possible damage due to 
the cultivation within the isolation distance is for the GM crop grower 
BE Wallonia: Neighbouring operators can decide  not to apply segr egation measures. 
The neighbouring non-GM crop has, however , to be labelled as GM, whatever 
the level of contamination, as this cont amination is no more "adventitious or 
technically unavoidable". 
CZ Segregation measures are obligatory. 
DE GM-crop growers do not have  to observe the coexistence obligations towards a 
third party if the said third party has ag reed in writing to renounce his protection 
or has not provided, on request, the inform ation necessary for his protection and 
the obligation serves in that particular case solely to protect that third party. The deviation from the principles of good farm ing practice shall be declared to the 
competent authority in good time before sowing or planting. 
DK Neighbouring operators may jo intly decide not to appl y the otherwise mandatory 
isolation distances. In such events they must sign a written agreement before sowing of the GM crop.  
EE (Draft measures) Requirements concer ning the isolation distances may be 
deviated from if there is a written agr eement with the party or parties concerned, 
which is to be signed before the GM crop is sown. A party which acquires or 
otherwise takes over the right to us e land on which GM crops have been 
cultivated shall assume responsibility for the control of volunteers and the duty to 
maintain the cultivation intervals laid down for the crop concerned.  
ES (Draft measures) Neighbouring operators can decide not to observe isolation 
distances although they should still comp ly with other requested measures.  
FI (Draft measures) GM crop growers may de viate from the obligatory isolation if 
 
EN 37   EN this has been agreed with the neighbour. In such cases, however, compensation 
of possible economic losses due to GMO admixture shall not be compensated on 
the ground of this draft law.  
FR Measures not yet determined 
HU The application of segregation measures  is obligatory. However, farmers are 
allowed to submit an application for GMO cultivation jointly providing if the fields where they intend to grow GMOs are next to each other. In this case the 
competent authority treats the fields as one entity and one de cision will be issued 
– therefore, segregation meas ures between the fields of the joint farmers are not 
necessary. Procedures, segregation m easures are presented under point 1.2.2. 
IR (Draft measures) Segregation measures are obligatory. 
IT (Draft measures) Segregation measures are obligatory. 
LT GM crop growers may not observe the mini mum isolation distan ces if GM plants 
are cultivated in adjoining fields or the harv est of crops cult ivated by neighbours 
is not intended to be placed on the market, or it will be labelled as GM. In this case, the GM crop grower must info rm neighbours about the coexistence 
requirements, providing them the copies  of the crops plans, and obtain the 
consent of the neighbours in writing. 
LU Segregation measures are obligatory. 
LV Neighbouring operators may jo intly decide not to appl y segregation measures, 
when the owners or users of the neighbour ing fields give a written co-ordination 
document stating that they do not object to an accident al admixture of GM crops. 
NL Segregation measures are obligatory. 
PL  Measures not yet determined  
PT See point 1.2.2. 
RO Segregation measures are obligatory. 
SI GM crop growers and their neighbouri ng farmers may jointly decide which 
measures will be applied before an application for GM crop cultivation will be submitted. The segregation measures listed in the application are then obligatory. 
SK Farmers have the responsibility to ob serve all duties of the coexistence law. 
SV The purpose of the regulation is to pr event a non-GM crop grower to suffer 
economic damage deriving from having to label a product as GM. Neighbouring 
farms that both grow GM crops do not need to maintain safety measures between them. A GM crop grower can agree with  a neighbouring farmer not to observe 
the isolation distances between their fiel ds. In that case any admixture in the non-
GM product could not be considered adve ntitious or technically unavoidable. 
Similarly, a GM crop grower does not have  to implement segregation measures 
 
EN 38   EN within his own farm. 
 
 
1.3. Rules and procedures in cases of GMO admixture and/or damage  
1.3.1.  Notification requirements applicable for operators in cases where GMO 
presence is observed in non-GM products  or elsewhere in the environment 
(labelling requirements according to Comm unity legislation are not considered 
here) 
AT No such requirements exist in some regions . In others, owners or users of areas, 
on which GM crops are not cultivated, ar e obliged to report suspected cases of 
contamination with GMOs to the public authorities. 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: No specific notif ication requirements. However, a GM 
crop grower has to notified any unexpected  or abnormal event occurring within a 
GM-crop or in the neighbouring environment 
CZ No specific notification requirements  
DE No specific notification requirements. Th e coexistence monitoring in general is 
exercised by the holder of the authoris ation for placing the GMO on the market 
and the state authorities. 
DK No specific notification requirements 
EE No specific notification requirements 
ES (Draft measures) Farmers will have to notify the regional competent authority 
any problem or difficulty in applying the coexistence measures, or any other 
conflict that may be derived from co-existence.  
FI (Draft measures) No spec ific notification requirements 
FR No specific notification requirements. Howe ver, in application of the rural code, 
any abnormal event or negative effect whic h could be linked to the release of 
GMOs shall be reported to the plant protection services.  
HU Should a consent holder acquire important new data relating to the GMO or to 
the gene technological activity for which its consent has been granted, it shall 
inform the relevant gene tec hnology authority without delay. 
IR No specific notification requirements 
IT No specific notification requirements 
LT In the case of mixing or cross-breedi ng of GM plants with conventional and 
organic plants or in the case of spillag e of GM plants or their products, when 
GMO presence exceeds 0.9 %, competent national supervisor y bodies must be 
 
EN 39   EN informed of the incident.  
LU No specific notification requirements  
LV No specific notification requirements  
NL No specific notification requirements  
PL (Draft measures) If the presence of GMOs  is observed in official controls the 
inspectors must inform the competent authority.  
PT No specific notification requirements 
RO No special notification requirements 
SI The Inspection Service for Agriculture, Fo restry and Food should be informed if 
an authorised GMO is present in non-GM  products. The inspector will decide 
whether the crop is considered damage d or not (and if the damage is 
unintentional or not). If GM crops are found elsewhere in the environment the 
Inspection for Environment should be informed. 
SK No special notification requirements 
SV No special notification requirements 
 
1.3.2.  Rules applying in relation to the comp ensation of economic damage that may 
result from GMO admixture 
AT Some regions (Länder) have no sp ecific provisions on compensation.  
Other regions stipulate that GM crop gr owers have to grant compensation in 
cases of illegal cultivation. The damage  has to be calculated according to the 
market value of non-GM crops. To the extent that damaged products can still be used, the resulting revenue has to be de ducted. A limitation of the market value 
of the damaged product that would have resu lted from other factors, in particular 
climatic conditions, has to be deducte d. Should it become necessary to plough 
the land and re-plant it with other cr ops, the associated costs have to be 
compensated. The damaged party has to complain within two months from 
obtaining knowledge of the damage. 
In some regions, public authorities may implement necessary emergency 
measures to prevent out-crossing with GM crops in the cases of illegal or inappropriate cultivation. The resulting costs have to be compensated by the GM 
crop grower.  
In one region, in cases of contamina tion of products with GMOs, where the 
responsible for the contamination cannot be determined, damaged parties may 
receive compensation by the regional Government. 
BE 
Flanders: A compensation fund is fed by contributions from GM crop growers 
 
EN 40   EN (amount still to be determined). Farm ers having experienced economic loss due 
to GMO admixture above 0.9 % can apply for a compensation, but several conditions have to be met: (1) principa lly only damage outside the isolation 
distance (exception foreseen when an app eal of a non-GM crop grower inside the 
isolation distance was overruled); (2) appl ication for compensation is restricted 
in time (before 30 June of second cal endar year after the harvest); (3) the 
applicant may not cultivate himself GM varieties of the same damaged plant 
species; (4) the damaged plant species has to be the same as the plant species on 
the GM crop field within the notifica tion distance; (5) if hard evidence was 
provided that the damage could not be caused by the GM crop field within the 
notification distance (for example other GM event); (6) the applicant himself 
needs to comply with all the legislation and may not be negligent. The fund may 
also recover paid compensations at a later stage if new evidence comes up. Applications for compensation are dealt with by a committee of administration, 
scientists and experts. The overall civil liability legislation still applies in all (other) cases. 
Wallonia: (Draft measures) A compensa tion fund is in place to compensate 
economic damage resulting from GMO admixture of the harvested product. Economic damage is defined relativel y to legal labelling thresholds 
(conventional or organic farming). The pro cedure is still to be  defined. There are 
no specific requirements for compensati on, except if the GM and non-GM crop 
of the same species are grown by the sa me operator. In that case compensation 
applies only if the operator can prove that GM crop was grown in accordance with the legal prescriptions. The level of  compensation will be decided by an ad-
hoc commission, on a case-by-case basis.  The right of a farmer suffering 
contamination of his harvest to proceed to the tribunal is maintained. If an 
operator is found responsible for any fault, the expenses of the compensation fund will be reclaimed.  
CY When a deliberate release into the environment of GMOs occurs and causes 
damage into the environment, public heal th, or private proper ty the operator can 
be charged with an offence. The cour t can also order the submission of all 
expenses for damage restoration. 
CZ In relation to GM crop cultivation the ge neral civil liability legislation applies. 
DE Farmers growing GM plants are liable for all economic losses incurred on 
neighbouring farms due to unwanted admixt ure regardless of whether or not a 
direct link can be ascertained. An economic loss occurs when a neighbouring farmer’s harvest exceeds the 0.9 % threshold for GM content that makes it illegal to sell the harvest without a GMO labe l. Farmers growing GM crops are still 
liable even if they followed the codes of good agricultural practice designed to 
prevent out-crossing and admixture.  
DK Specific liability and compensation legisl ation has been established for farmers 
who suffer an economic loss due to GMO admixture. In order to receive compensation the GM field must be cultiv ated within a certain distance from the 
non-GM field and in the same growing season, which is greater than the crop-specific isolation distances. Also the GMO trait that has been identified in the non-GM crop must be identical to the cultivated GM crop. The content of GMO 
 
EN 41   EN in the non-GM crop must exceed 0.9 % on a whole field basis. Organic farmers 
can also receive compensation if they suffer a loss even though their field is 
outside the compensation distance. That is  if the seeds they sowed contained GM 
seeds. Farmers must send their compensation claims to the Danish Plant Directorate no later that 14 days afte r the GMO presence in non-GM products 
was discovered. Claims received after 1 A ugust the year after the harvesting year 
will not be accepted. The fund is financed by the GM crop growers through the cultivation fee (13 Euro pe r hectare with GM crops). 
EE Losses caused by illegal introduction of GMOs to the environment, illegal 
marketing of GMOs or products, failing to fulfil the obligation of notification or 
failing to comply with the rules of handling GM crops will be compensated 
according to the Law of Obligations Act. 
ES The general civil liability legislation appl ies. Furthermore, if adventitious GMO 
presence is found in non-GM fields, the corresponding regional administrative 
law will apply. For any claims, operat ors must provide legally acceptable 
evidence.     
FI (Draft measures) Losses caused by admi xture of GM plant materials with non-
GM plant varieties in conventional or  organic production may be compensated 
by the State on certain preconditions: if it is  likely that the damage results from 
the cultivation of GM crops and does not result from the acts of the party 
suffering the damage. Damage is comp ensated if the GMO admixture exceeds 
the limits imposed on such products of cu ltivation (or the products made thereof) 
in EC product legislation with the conse quence that the produc ts either are not 
permitted to be marketed at all or can only be marketed labelled as GM products. Additionally, costs of the necessary investigations, sampling etc. shall be 
compensated for the conventional or orga nic grower in question. For an organic 
grower also costs of the actions necessa ry for restoring th e genetically mixed 
plantation to the condition st ated in community legisla tion on organic agriculture 
shall be compensated, as well as cost s caused by the revers ion of his plant 
cultivations or animal production to th e conversion period defined in Regulation 
(EEC) No. 2092/91. The compensation can be applied for from the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira within one year  after harvesting the damaged yield, and 
the application should present sufficient clarification of the damages. If the 
damage has been caused by the GM crop grower due to neglect or omission (i.e. as the result of not complying with the measures stated in the draft law), the Finnish state has a right of  recourse towards the GM crop grower. Provided gene 
flow from other growers' GM fields ha s changed seed to an extent that the 
statutory seed thresholds are exceeded and the harvested seed cannot any more 
be used for sowing seed, the economic losses caused thereby for the seed producer are included in the compen sation regime in the draft law. 
FR The GM crop grower is responsible in cas e of economic damage even if no fault 
has been made. Economic damage is defined to occur when the EU threshold of 0.9 % is exceeded in a produc tion obtained on a field lo cated close to a GM crop 
field and grown in the same year. The damage is defined as the difference between the price of the GM product and the price of the non-GM product. The conditions and procedure will be defined in a decree. The GM crop grower must 
subscribe a financial guarantee. The genera l civil liability legislation applies for 
 
EN 42   EN other kinds of damages. 
HU The liability rules for dama ge resulting from activities involving increased risk of 
the Hungarian Civil Code should be a pplied for damage occurring from the 
cultivation of GM crops, unless the aggrieved party ha s given its prior written 
consent to the GMO cultivation, in which case the general liability rules of the 
Civil Code shall be applied. The aggrieve d party can also cl aim compensation for 
non financial loss. The proof of actual admi xture is required; therefore the loss of 
a farmer whose customers only fear that his products are no longer GMO-free is 
not recognized as compensable. A compensation fund compensating harm 
resulting from GMOs is not foreseen. 
IR Measures not yet determined 
IT (Draft measures) Damage originating fr om non-compliance with the coexistence 
plan has to be compensated. Specific rules apply for the compensation of damage resulting from a mixture that can not be  charged to individual responsibilities. 
Specific insurance instruments from producers are considered to cover costs resulting from the responsibilities a nd damages caused. A producer is excluded 
from any responsibilities if using cer tified non-GM seeds. Furthermore the 
guidelines foresee the creation of a specific fund for the compensating of 
economic damage resulting from the pres ence of GM material in other products 
or soils that cannot be compensated under civil liability rules. The claimant has 
to prove economic damage by the presence of GM material in his own product or 
his own soil. The following losses can be co mpensated: (a) price reduction of the 
agricultural product due  to the presence of GM material (the amount of the 
compensation is limited to the difference of the market price between the product which has to be labelled as GM and a non-labelled product), (b) test costs and 
indirect losses result ing from the change of market channels.  
LT Farmers shall be liable for non-complia nce with the coexis tence rules. No 
specific rules or mechanisms for compensa tion have been defined in relation to 
GM crop cultivation. 
LU GM crop growers are responsible for any economic damage that may occur from 
their GM crops. General ci vil liability applies. 
LV GM crop growers shall compensate the incurred economic lo sses to the amount 
specified by the court if these have aris en from non-compliance with coexistence 
requirements. 
NL (Draft measures) A fund covering re sidual damage is under construction. 
PL The general civil code applies. 
PT Compensation will be granted by a fund for economic damage arising from 
accidental contamination due to the cultivation of GM varieties. This compensation fund applies to agricultural  products, not transformed, in the first 
phase of market placement, which have been verifiably mixed, in levels above 0.9 %, with the same GMOs that are cont ained in the cultivated GM varieties. 
 
EN 43   EN RO There are no specific provisions concer ning the compensation of economic 
damage that may result from GMO admixt ure. The general civil code applies. 
SI If the person who has damaged the crop is  known, the general civil liability law 
is applied. Otherwise the Republic of Sl ovenia takes over the responsibility for 
damage, on the basis of the notificati on of a farmer suffering damage. The 
amount of the damage is determined as  the price differen ce (GM versus non-GM 
products) and other costs re lated to farming where GM Os are not allowed. The 
Committee at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry determines the amount of compensation. If there is no c onsensus, the court for civil matter is 
involved. 
SK There are no specific provisions concer ning the compensation of economic 
damage that may result from GMO admixtur e. The general civil code applies.  
SV The general civi l code applies. 
 
1.3.3.  Availability of insurance cover on the market for economic risks related to 
GMO admixture  
BE Flanders and Wallonia: No insurance available 
CY No insurance available  
CZ No information available on such insurance 
DE No insurance available 
DK No insurance available. Until insura nce will be available the Danish 
compensation fund will pay for economic losses due to GMO admixture if the specific compensation rules are complied with.  
EE No insurance available 
ES No information available on such insurance 
FI No insurance available 
FR Insurance cover is not yet available on the market but some insurance companies 
are preparing in surance products. 
HU No insurance available 
IR No insurance available 
IT No insurance available 
LT No insurance available 
 
EN 44   EN LV No insurance available 
NL No insurance available 
PL No insurance available 
PT No insurance available 
RO No insurance available 
SI No insurance available 
SK No insurance available 
SV No insurance available 
 
1.3.4.  Obligatory subscription of an insurance  
AT Insurance cover can be reque sted by the competent author ity in some regions as a 
condition to grant authorisation for the cultivation of GM crops. Where no insurance cover is available, sufficient financial guarantee may be requested. In 
other regions, such requirements do not exist. 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: Subscription  of an insurance is not obligatory 
CY (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
CZ Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
DE Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
DK Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
EE (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
ES (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
FI (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
FR The subscription to a financial guarante e is mandatory. This can include an 
insurance but also other types of financ ial guarantee. A decree will define the 
different possibilities. 
HU Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
IR (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
IT (Draft measures) The guidelines foresee the obligation to c ontract a policy of 
insurance or a guarantee before seeding. 
 
EN 45   EN LT Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
LU Subscription to insurance or sp ecial compensation fund is mandatory. 
LV Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
NL Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
PL (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
PT Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
RO Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
SI (Draft measures) Subscription of  an insurance is not obligatory 
SK Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
SV Subscription of an in surance is not obligatory 
 
1.4. Restrictions for the cultivation of GM crops  
1.4.1.  Regions where GM crops may not be gr own, or where specific authorisation 
procedures apply 
AT In regions (Länder) requiring an authoris ation for the cultivation of GM crops, 
such authorisation will only be granted by the competent regional authority in 
certain protected areas if the aim of prot ection of these areas is guaranteed and/or 
wild animals and plants as well as natu ral habitats are not damaged. In some 
regions, specific protection is provided fo r certain protected areas, including the 
alpine region and/or mountain pastures , glaciers and their catchment areas, 
swamps, reed and riverside forest areas , areas managed under contract nature 
protection schemes, will only be grante d by the competent regional authority if 
the aim of protection of these areas is gua ranteed. In some cases, the cultivation 
of GM crops requires in specific author isation in certain protected regions. 
Cultivation is not allowed in  areas of organic farming, and in areas where a risk 
of out-crossing with non-GM production exists. In some regions, public 
authorities may designate re gions, where, according to the current scientific 
knowledge appropriate segregation measur es cannot prevent out-crossing with 
GMOs. Only two regions do not have speci fic procedures for different regions. 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: no specifi c procedures for different regions 
CY GM crops may not be grown in Natura 2000 areas and Specially Protected Areas 
(SPAs) 
CZ no specific procedures for different regions 
DE no specific procedures for different regions 
 
EN 46   EN DK no specific procedures for different regions  
EE no specific procedures for different regions  
ES There are no specific procedures for di fferent regions, however, the Autonomous 
Regions may adapt the general co-existence measures according to their particularities, including the possibility for more restrictive measures or bans, provided this is in compliance with the EU legislation. 
FI Cultivation of GM plant material of a certain plant species or variety can be 
restricted or prohibited within a geogra phically restricted area important for its 
seed production, provided that the purity requirements for seed production in the 
Finnish Seed Trade Act cannot be reach ed by other measures provided in the 
present draft law. Restriction or prohi bition will be enacted by a ministerial 
decree by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 
FR The natural parks can exclude the cultiva tion of GM crops with the unanimous 
agreement of the concerned farmers, and if  this possibility is included in their 
charter. 
HU Applications to grow GM crops will be assessed, amongst others, according to 
regional criteria. Goal of the authoris ation process is to enable competent 
authorities to define cultivation c onditions taking into account local 
circumstances as well as special characte ristics of the plant species: (a) cross-
pollination of specific species and varietie s (if there are similar species/varieties 
from taxonomical aspect in the vicinity of the field used to grow genetically 
modified plants), (b) the purpose of the utilisation, (c) the vegetation period, (d) 
propagation biological characte ristics; inclination for interspecific cross-breeding 
with non-GM species, (e) following region al characteristics: (1) the prevalence 
of the genetically modified species/varie ties to be grown, th e size of acreage 
compared with non-GM plants in the actua l region, (2) the shap e and size of the 
field (compared to what is characteristic in the region), (3) characteristic climatic 
conditions of the region, (4) characterist ic topographic features  of the region, (5) 
factors influencing pollination and the gene  flow via pollen, (6) the distance from 
protected and sensitive na tural areas and those of the Natura 2000 areas. The 
nature conservation authority may sugge st isolation distan ces towards areas 
under environmental protection, environmen tal sensitive areas or Natura 2000 
areas. These isolation distances can be wi der than the ones to non-GM crop fields 
but shall not exceed the double of those.  Furthermore, the nature conservation 
authority may suggest special cultivat ion conditions in order to ensure 
compliance with the EC legislation on the conservation of natural habitats and of 
wild fauna and flora and on the conservati on of wild birds as well as with the 
rules included in national legislation on designation of protected areas and on 
environmental sensitive areas. The granting of the consent for cultivation can only be refused if compliance with the a bove mentioned rules can not be ensured 
even by such special cultivation conditions. 
IR no specific procedures for different regions 
IT (Draft measures) The cultivation of GM crops is excluded from the following 
 
EN 47   EN areas: protected areas, Natura 2000 areas: SAC – Special Areas of Conservation, 
SCI – Sites of Community Importance, ar eas for the protection of biodiversity, 
sites of conservation of agronomic biodive rsity identified within the meaning of 
the regional laws or rules, and, where existent, the summer dike basins. GM 
crops that are sexually comp atible cannot be grown in areas focussing on quality 
production (PDO, PGI, VQPRD, etc.) of cer tain crops, except for those where 
production rules explicitly allow the use of GMOs. GM crops cannot be 
cultivated in homogenous areas of organi c and integrated farming according to 
the regional laws or rules. The Regions  and Autonomous Provinces can foresee a 
specific protection of the areas for th e propagation and reproduction of plants, 
including the creation of closed areas  where GM crops will be banned.  
LT (Draft revision of the Law on Protected Areas). Specific protected areas will be 
established where GM crops may not be grown. 
LU no specific procedures for different regions 
LV The cultivation of GM crops in protected nature territories of European 
significance (Natura 2000 pl aces) is permitted only if specially protected 
biotopes, species and existence of specia lly protected habitats of species of 
limited use are not threatened. GM cr op growers shall receive technical 
regulations in the regional office of  the State Environmental Service. 
NL no specific procedures for different regions 
PL (Draft measures): There will be ru les introduced on esta blishing GMO-free 
regions in Poland. Up to now all woie wodeship announced themselves as GMO-
free regions, but their declar ation is not legally binding.  
PT No specific authorisation procedure is establ ished at regional le vel or for specific 
regions. The general principle is: if a GM variety is authorised according to the 
EU legislation, it can be cultivated if th e national coexistence rules are fulfilled. 
Although this principle exists, is possibl e to officially recognise a GMO-free 
zone for the cultivation of a particular plant sp ecies, following a voluntary 
decision made by a group of farmers.  
RO The regions where GM crops may not be grown are the natural protected areas 
(as Biosfera Delta Dunarii and others) and the Natura 2000 national reserves.  
SI The cultivation of GM crops is prohibit ed in regions established on a voluntary 
basis as described under point 1.4.2. 
SK no specific procedures for different regions 
SV no specific procedures for different regions 
 
1.4.2.  Designation of regions or zones reserved for the cultivation of GM crops or, 
alternatively, for the cultivation of non-GM crops 
 
EN 48   EN AT All declarations of the re gions (Länder) within the ne twork of GMO-free regions 
are of a political nature; there do not exist any legally binding provisions.  
BE Flanders: GMO-free zones can be declared only with the full written support and 
on a complete voluntary basis of all th e farmers concerned. The GMO-free zones 
will have to have a minimum area (not ye t determined) and can only be declared 
for plant species of which already GM varieties exist on the European market. 
 Wallonia: There is the possibility to  designate GMO-free zones for a given 
species on voluntary base of the farmers concerned. The procedure still has to be 
defined. 
CY No such regions or zones foreseen 
CZ  No such regions or zones foreseen 
DE No such regions or zones foreseen 
DK No such regions or zones foreseen 
EE No such regions or zones foreseen 
ES There is the possibility to grow within  certain zones exclusively GM or non-GM 
crops on a voluntary base by the all farmers concerned. There have already been 
agreements between GM crop growers and organic farmers to segregate both types of crop using either sp atial or temporal segregation. 
FI Without formal restrictions, any grower can  always enter into an agreement with 
another grower of not using any of the statutory (but not co mpulsory) production 
methods. However, such agreements do not bind any grower who has not signed the agreement. There is not yet any cult ivation of GM varieties in Finland, and 
thus no practical experience of the use of such agreements. 
FR The natural parks can exclude the cultivation of GMOs, with the unanimous 
agreement of the concerned farmers, and if  this possibility is included in their 
charter. There is not any experience yet. 
HU Zones for the cultivation of GM or non-GM crops have not been set up in the 
legislation yet. However, several farmers can jointly apply for the cultivation consent if they possess neighbouring fiel ds. In that case th e gene technological 
authority handles those fields as one en tity and issues only one decision on the 
cultivation. Farmers can decide to desi gnate areas for the cultivation of non-GM 
crops on the basis of voluntary civil law agreements.  
IR No such regions or zones foreseen  
IT (Draft measures) Areas for an exclusion of the cultivation of  GM crops can be 
identified by regional legislation on the basis of the following criteria: the agro-
environmental condition of the regional territory, specific measures for the 
protection of the environment, biodiver sity, socio-economic aspects, and on the 
basis of technical criteria, if GMO admixture could not be prevented to 
 
EN 49   EN conventional, organic and integrated produc tion on the basis of measures defined 
at farm level. Some restri ctions can also be introduced  in areas, where there is 
agricultural production under quality schemes,  or permanent rearing of bees, or 
the production of seeds and other reproducti ve material. The guidelines foresee a 
system of legal recognition of the voluntary agreements  with the ratification by 
the Municipal Authorities, when these agreements are directed to exclude the cultivation of GM crops and where it is possible to reach a q uorum of 50 % + 1 
of the farmers. 
LT (Draft measures) According to the dr aft of the Law on Protected Areas all 
protected areas in Lithuani a should be without GMOs. 
LV Cultivation of GM crops may be prohibited in particular territories, in which, in 
accordance with scientific evidence, the cultivation of GM crops may cause substantial losses to the economy and hinder its development, cause harm to human and animal health or to the environment. The European Commission shall be informed regarding such prohibiti on. Local governments, associations and 
foundations may submit to the Ministry of Agriculture recommendations for 
declaration of a particular te rritory as free from the cultivation of GM crops if, in 
accordance with scientific evidence, the cultivation of GM crops may cause substantial losses to the economy or hind er its development,  cause harm to 
human and animal health or to the envi ronment. Local governments, associations 
and foundations may submit to the Minist ry of Agriculture recommendations for 
declaration of a particular te rritory as free from the cultivation of GM crops if, in 
accordance with scientific substantiation, the cultivation of GM crops may cause 
substantial losses to the economy or hind er its development,  cause harm to 
human and animal health or to the envi ronment. Natural protected zones have 
been defined as potential future GMO- free zones, if there is evidence that 
growing of GM crops could, despite of coexistence measures, have a negative impact on the biodiversity of the natural protected zones. 
NL No such regions or zones foreseen  
PL No such regions or zones foreseen  
PT GMO-free zones: In accordance with the national legislation, the initiative to 
request the establishment of a GMO-free zone  can result from the direct initiative 
of the interested farmers or of the townships, which can, by means of their Municipality Assembly, deliberate on the request for a GMO-free zone from the 
cultivation of a certain plant species. This possibility granted to the 
municipalities does not exempt them from  having to, first, consult with their 
respective farmers associations and obtai ning their favorable opinion, as it is the 
right of the individual farmer or owner of  agricultural endeav or of not having his 
or her agricultural production included in a GMO-free zone. As a result of this legal possibility and as the legal requisites have been met, the Municipality of Lagos was officially recogni zed as a GMO-free zone from the cultivation of GM 
varieties of maize. 
GMO production zones: During 2007, 11 GM O production zones were registered 
with the Ministry of Agriculture, spr ead throughout the regions North, Center, 
Lisbon & Tejo Valley, and Alentejo, whic h, altogether, represent 43,5 % of the 
 
EN 50   EN area planted with GM maize. In 2008, im portant increases in  the number of 
GMO production zones have been noted, in particular in the centre and north of 
the country were the land parcels are very small.  
RO No such regions or zones foreseen 
SI (Draft measures) The Act allows heads of agricultural holdings to establish, on a 
voluntary basis (i.e. by written agreement), an area in which GM crops will not be cultivated. The valid period for such an agreement may not exceed 5 years. 
The Ministry will take a written agreem ent signed in accordance with the Act 
into account when making a decision on wh ether to grant an authorisation to 
cultivate GM crops. In these regions the cultivation of GM crops is then not 
possible. The establishment of GM crop pr oduction zones is also provided in the 
Act. Municipal councils are taki ng decisions setting up GMO-free 
Municipalities. In these decisions the cultivation of GMO crops is prohibited only on the land, which is the property of the Municipal. 
SK No such regions or zones foreseen 
SV Farmers in an area have the possibility to  come to an agreement on the method of 
cultivation. That would then be on a voluntar y basis and is not a regulative issue. 
 
1.4.3.  Provisions concerning the possibility th at coexistence may not be possible in 
certain regions due to difficult farming conditions  
Flanders: No specific pr ovisions have been set in  the decree (framework 
legislation). Species specific measures will be adopted for maize instantly and as new species with GM varieties will come on the European market. It will then be 
discussed whether for the c oncerned plant species, coex istence will be possible, 
taking account of the small and fr agmented fields in Flanders. 
BE Wallonia: None 
CY In Cyprus the majority of parcels are small and fragmented and this is considered 
a major difficulty in GM crop cultivations . No specific provisions are in place for 
this. 
CZ None 
DE None 
DK None 
EE None 
ES None 
FI None 
 
EN 51   EN FR None 
HU None 
IR None 
IT (Draft measures) The guidelines foresee the definition of areas for an exclusion 
of GM crop cultivation on the basis of  the environmental and socio-economic 
characteristics and on the basi s of the voluntary agreements. 
LT None 
LU Yes 
LV None 
NL None 
PL Not yet decided 
PT None  
RO None 
SI None 
SK None 
SV None 
 
1.4.4.  Measures concerning the cultivation of  GM crops in the framework of the 
national or regional Rura l Development Programmes 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: None 
CY None  
CZ None  
DE None  
DK None  
EE None  
ES None 
FI None  
FR None 
 
EN 52   EN HU None  
IR None  
IT None  
LT None  
LU None  
LV None 
NL None 
PL None  
PT Farmers participating in the support scheme for in tegrated production under the 
national Rural Development Programme are not allowed to use GM crops. 
However, GM crops are not generally prohibited in integrated production.  
RO None  
SI The issue of the coexistence of GM crop has been addressed in the Action Plan 
for the Development of Organic Farming in Slovenia to 2015 and in the Resolution on the National Environm ental Protection Programme 2005-2012. 
SK None 
SV None  
 
1.4.5.  Legislative restrictions for th e cultivation of GM crops  
AT Cultivation of MON810 is impossible due to a prohibition established at federal 
level. 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: None 
CY GM crops may not be grown in Natura 2000 and SPA areas. Also, no GM crop 
cultivation can take place when the GMO has relative species as endemic or native in Cyprus. 
CZ None 
DE None 
DK None 
EE None 
 
EN 53   EN ES None 
FI None 
FR The cultivation of maize MON810 is forbi dden on all the French territory, until a 
decision is taken concerning the renewa l of the authorisation of the maize 
MON810. 
HU Hungary applies a temporary prohibition on the cultivation of MON810 varieties 
since 2005 based on the safeguard clause of Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs. 
IR None 
IT (Draft measures) The cultivation of GM  crops is subject to a Ministerial 
Authorisation. Some Regions have prohi bited the cultivation of GM crops on 
their territory for different periods, which will be removed after the approval of regional provisions of coexistence, on the basis of the inter-regional guidelines. 
The guidelines foresee the prohibition of cultivation of the GM rapeseed on the whole national territory.  
LT None 
LU None 
LV The cultivation of GM crops in the prot ected nature territo ries of European 
significance (Natura 2000 pl aces) is permitted only if specially protected 
biotopes, species and existence of specia lly protected habitats of species of 
limited use are not threatened. 
NL None 
PL None 
PT None 
RO It is forbidden to plant GM crops on compact plots smaller than 2 hectares, 
except for those set up for scientific purposes.  
SI None 
SK None 
SV None 
 
1.4.6.  Agreement of third parties to the cultivation of GM crops  
AT In most regions (Länder), no agreemen t by third parties is required. In one 
region, neighbours and GM crop growers ar e parties to the consulted by the 
 
EN 54   EN competent authority in order to grant an authorisation for the cultivation of GM 
crops.  
Flanders: Within the isol ation distance, neighbouri ng farmers (no hobbyists or 
other citizens) can register objections (appeals) to the cultivation of the GM crop, 
based on their own reasoned economic interest. Owners do not have any 
involvement in the agreement; they will only be formally informed. Other third 
parties are not involved. 
BE Wallonia: None, except if the isolation dist ance is totally or partially occupied by 
the neighbouring farmer. In this case this neighbouring framer can prevent the 
establishment of a GM crop, if  he intends to grow with in the isolation distance a 
crop compatible with the GM crop and that  he intends to harv est as conventional 
or organic. 
CY  None 
CZ  None 
DE  None 
DK  None 
EE None 
ES None 
FI None 
FR None 
HU Yes, if the isolation distance ex tends over the neighbouring field(s). 
IR (Draft measures) Only where part of the isolation distance is within the 
ownership of the third party. 
IT (Draft measures) An agreement is required among third parties in areas, where 
the cultivation of GM crops  is otherwise excluded.  
LT A consent of the land owner is required  
LU A consent of the land owner is required  
LV Yes, cultivation is dependent on the ag reement of third parties (land owners, 
neighbours). 
NL None 
PL Not yet decided 
PT None 
 
EN 55   EN RO None 
SI Yes, if the producer can not assure all necessary measures for coexistence by 
himself. 
SK An agreement of neighbour field owner or  user is not necessary. The isolation 
distance shall be observed by GM cr op growers, not by their neighbours. 
SV None 
 
1.5. Administrative provisions 
1.5.1.  Enforcement and monitoring of the provisions by pub lic authorities 
AT In lack of experience deta ils regarding the enforcement and monitoring cannot be 
provided. The regions (Länder) have to take the initiative in the case of 
applications. They have their own regiona l authorities (according to the national 
Constitution) being in charge for such matters. 
BE Flanders: Supervision is provided by offi cials from the public authority. Within 
the framework of their duties they may, in particular: (1) question people about 
facts that are relevant fo r carrying out supervision;  (2) access all books and 
documents that are required for completing their task; (3) take samples of crops with a view to analysing them; (4) take samples or have samples taken other than 
those referred to in point 3 with a view  to dissecting them; (5) freely walk the 
land; (6) take the necessary preservation measures. The officials are authorised, 
in the event of an infringement, to draw  u p  a n  a s s e s s m e n t  r e p o r t .  T h e y  s h a l l  
submit this report immediately to the co mpetent authority. As far as is known, 
the suspected offender shall be notified  with a copy of the assessment report. 
They may give verbal or written sugge stions, warnings and orders and take 
samples and have them dissected by an approved laboratory. 
CY Not yet relevant due to lack of GM crop cultivation 
CZ The Ministry of Agricultur e (with a support of regional agricultural agencies and 
the State Phytosanitary Authority) checks on all notified fields with Bt maize 
whether farmers observe the isolation dist ances (and/or buffer zones). On chosen 
fields samples are taken and than an alyzed in a competent laboratory. 
DE  Compliance with coexistence measures is  monitored by the relevant authorities 
of the German regions (Länder). The result s are discussed at regular meetings of 
the German competent authorities. 
DK During the first years of GM crop cultivat ion it is the intention to control all 
farms cultivating GM crops for their observance of the coexistence rules. In time with an increasing number of farms cult ivating GM crops th is 100 % control will 
be replaced with spot checks. The contro l will be performed by authorised field 
inspectors from the Danish Plant Directorate. 
 
EN 56   EN EE The Plant Production Inspectorate takes samples. 
ES (Draft measures) Operators growing GM crops, following a request, have to 
collaborate with the competent authorit ies in taking samples and gathering the 
information needed to comply with the monitoring plans of those varieties. Regional competent authorities will inspec t a percentage of GM crop fields in 
order to check whether co-existence rules have bee applied during the 
cultivation, harvest, transport and storage. The Mini stry of the Environment and 
Rural and Marine Affairs wi ll elaborate an annual report on the monitoring and 
evaluation work carried out by the re gional governments. This report will 
include, amongst others, problems th at may have been experienced by 
neighbouring farmers, as well as data c oncerning the adventitious presence of 
GMOs in non-GM fields and observations on the compliance with  the legislation. 
The first report will devote special atte ntion to the potential economic effects of 
co-existence, analysing available compensation schemes. The National 
Commission on Bio-vigilance must be no tified by the regions about relevant 
information on coexistence.    
FI The general guidance and cont rol of the enforcement of the draft law belongs to 
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest ry. The Finnish Food Safety Authority 
Evira is responsible for the enforcement of the draft law and for the control of 
complying the measures imposed in it on GM agriculture. Evira can also utilize 
certain regional authorities to help it w ith its control activities. It also makes 
decisions on the applications for compensation. 
FR There is not yet any experience conc erning the application of the new law. 
HU Authorization process: the competent aut hority (cultivation authority) for the 
authorisation procedure is the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 
The Ministry of Environment and Water issues an expert opinion regarding the 
size of the isolation distance and special cultivation instructions in case of 
proximity of areas under environmental pr otection, environmental sensitive areas 
or Natura 2000 areas, if necessary. 
Central database on GM crop fields: opera tion of the national database is the 
duty of the cultivation authority. 
Regular controls: respecting the provisions  contained in the cultivation consent 
and in legal regulations shall be supervis ed by the regional organs of the Central 
Agricultural Office. 
There are specific provisions dealing with the costs associated with sampling and 
testing of GMO presence in other products  in ministerial decrees. The offender 
should pay the costs of the official c ontrol in the case of  justified fault. 
Authorities carry out sampling without  recompense. In procedures upon 
application, charges must be paid by the applicant. Charges of state 
administrative procedures and administrative  services with variable costs have to 
be determined in a lump sum. The ta ble of charges (and also the rules of 
collecting, managing, recording and refundi ng charges) must be specified in a 
decree of the competent minister, issued with the agreement of  the Minister of 
Finance. The extent of charges to be paid  must cover all costs connected with the 
 
EN 57   EN procedure or service. 
IR (Draft measures) All monitoring and en forcement will be carried out by the 
DAFF 
LT (Draft measures): The GM crop grower must submit all necessary data to the 
regional inspection post of the State Plant Protection Service 20 days prior to sowing of GM crops. During 30 days pe riod after sowing of GM crops, the 
inspector carries out an insp ection in the field. In the case of non-conformity, the 
farmer is obliged to take all necessa ry measures to eliminate the crop.  
LU There is an administrative control of the notification of the GM crop grower, 
followed by a field control in order to ch eck if the segregatio n requirements have 
been fulfilled. 
LV State supervision and control of the compliance with these Regulations in 
conformity with their competence sha ll be ensured by: (1) the State Plant 
Protection Service, which performs the control of GM crops during the 
cultivation of GM crops, sh all supervise and control the seed circulation of the 
varieties of GM crops; (2) the Food and Ve terinary Service, which performs the 
control of storage, prepar ation, packaging and transpor ting of GM ready products 
(except for seeds); and (3) the State Environmental Service, which controls the 
observance of isolation distance from the areas of cultivation of GM crops to the protected territories of European  significance (Natura 2000 areas). 
PL Enforcement and monitoring is in the dut ies of public authorities (Ministry of 
Environment, Ministry of Agricultu re and control bodies). The proper 
application of legal provisions is c ontrolled by occasional inspections. In 
particular, controls are performed on s eed material. There will be controls on 
places of GM crop cultivati on and in GMO-free regions.  
PT It is the duty of the regional agricultural services inspectors to perform activities 
of control and inspection of the cultivati on of GM varieties. These activities are 
coordinated and supported technically  by DGADR. Inspection activities are 
aimed to evaluate the compliance with th e Country’s administ rative and technical 
regulations pertaining to the cultivation of GM varieties. The control and 
inspection activities concur with all asp ects of the law, both administrative and 
technical, and follow a harmonized pr ogramme applied by all Inspectors. 
Generally, each farmer selected to be insp ected receives at least two visits of the 
Inspector, one of them during the developmen t of the culture, and the other in the 
final phase and/or after th e harvest. During such vis its the following aspects are 
checked, namely: (a) confirmation of registered areas and varieties; (b) verification of labels on the seed packag ing and respective invoices; (c) proof of 
participation of the farmer or the agricultural association’s representative in the training; (d) identification of the ‘nei ghbours’ and verification of the respective 
information; (e) verification, in the fi eld, of the application of technical 
regulations for the minimization of accidental presence by pollen; (f) verification, in the field, of sowing the refuge zones; (g) evaluation of 
compliance with the technical regulations for the minimization of accidental presence by mechanical mixtures; and (h) evaluation of compliance with the 
 
EN 58   EN labelling and traceability regulations. 
RO The Ministry of Agriculture has its own control plan which includes controls on 
all GM crop growers. There is also a Protocol signed in 20 06 by the authorities 
involved in the GM production chain (Na tional Sanitary Veterinary and Food 
Safety Authority, Ministry of Agricu lture and Rural Development, National 
Environmental Guard National, Consumer  Protection Authority), which defines 
the responsibilities of each authority rela tive to the effective enforcement of the 
domestic biotech legislation (as derived from the acquis). 
SI (Draft measures) The register of GM crop producers is managed by the Ministry 
of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The Insp ectorate for Agriculture, Forestry and 
Food of the Republic of Slovenia is responsible for supervising. 
SK UKSUP keeps a register of GM crop gr owers and GM crop production areas and 
controls compliance with the coexistence law. Controls are done on the farms at 
the time of sowing, concerning the obs ervation of isolation distances, the 
handling of GM seed and production. One years of cultivati on, responsible staff 
inspects GM crop fields takes samples from neighbouring fields. 
SV The SBA is the responsible authority for control of complience of the legislation. 
There will be both administrati ve and in-field controls.  
 
1.5.2.  Penalty rates for non-complian ce of the coexistence rules 
AT In most regions (Länder), penalties apply for the cultivation of GM crops without 
approval by the competent authority, for non-compliance with conditions for the cultivation consent, for the hindrance of public authorities in measures related to 
controls and the prevention of damage resulting from GM crop illegal cultivation. Upper limits of penalties range from € 2.000 to € 4.000 (and in cases of recurrence € 8.000) to € 15.000 to € 30.000, depending on the type of non-
compliance, and the region concerned.  
Flanders: Dependent on the infraction (bot h administrative and/ or related to the 
cultivation itself) administrative fine s are foreseen between € 200 and € 1000, 
possibly augmented with costs for expertis e, etc. There are no other penalties. 
BE Wallonia: Penalties and/or imprisonment are applicable accor ding to different 
categories of infractions to the decree. 
CY When a deliberate release into the environment of GMOs occurs and causes 
damage into the environment, public heal th, or private proper ty the operator can 
be charged with an offence. The penalty c ould be up to 5 years in prison and / or 
€ 300.000. The court can also order the submission of all expenses for damage restoration. 
CZ The Ministry of Agriculture can impos e a penalty up to the amount of 500.000 
CZK (ca € 21.000) on a GM crop grower w ho shall not meet obligations laid 
down in coexistence rules. 
 
EN 59   EN DE If the GM crop grower does not comply with the provisions of the order on good 
farming practice in the cultivation of GM plants the most rele vant consequences 
will be in the field of lia bility. Furthermore, those farmers may be punished 
according to the German administrative law. 
DK Infringements of the coexistence rules will be punished with fines. In the absence 
of experience with cultivation of GM crops  the possible size of fines still has to 
be determined. An approval for cultivati on of GM crops may also be withdrawn 
judicially, if a farmer has dispersed GM material or has given rise to the risk 
thereof as a result of gross or repeated vi olation of the provisions of the act or the 
executive order. 
EE Following a first warning, pe nalties may be imposed in  cases of non-compliance. 
Finally, an operator may be deleted from the register of GM crop handlers. 
FI (Draft measures) If the GM crop grower does not comply with the draft law or 
decrees based on it, the cont rol authority may order him to fulfil the obligations 
within a prescribed time. For preventing GMO admixture the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira may also deny GM  plant production in a certain area for a 
certain time period, if pl ant production in the said area does not fulfil the 
requirements stated in the draft law or the person responsible for cultivation has 
not passed the required examination. For similar reasons, Evira may also deny 
handling, storing or transporting of GM plant materials in a certain area. The 
ground for the denial is that the grower does not act in accordance with the above 
order, and that seve re economic losses may result. A conditional fine  may also be 
prescribed to strengthen th e order. A grower who on purpose or due to gross 
negligence infringes certain central requi rements imposed on him in this draft 
law shall be imposed a fine on coexisten ce delict, unless a more strict penalty 
applies on the basis of  other legislation.  
FR The sanctions for infringements of the co existence rules are up to 2 years prison, 
and € 75.000. 
HU Penalties can range from 300.000 HUF to 1 million HUF. Howeve r, in repeated 
cases it ranges from 1 to 10 million HUF. 
IR Not yet specified 
IT (Draft measures) The sanctions foreseen are of an administrative nature and 
cover all obligations on the GM crop gr ower. The sanctions go from a minimum 
of € 500 to a maximum of € 60.000. In the case of repetition it is foreseen to 
withdraw the licence for growing GM crops. 
LT The Code on Administrative Right’s Viol ation is applied to all persons who 
evade the requirements set out in EU a nd national law, and who are connected 
with import, transit and export of GMOs, the deliberate release into the environment, and the placing on the mark et. The value of penalties depends on 
the gravity and times of infringement: fo r first infringement cases: from 1.000 to 
2.000 Litas, and in repeated cas es: from 2.000 Litas to 5.000 Litas. 
 
EN 60   EN LU Penalties can go up from 8 days to six m onths of prison and/ or from € 251 up to 
€ 750.000. 
LV For infringement of the requirements for coexistence of GM crops, penalty rates 
are: for individual persons from LVL 50 to LVL 500 and for legal persons from 
LVL 500 to LVL 3000. 
NL Infringements result in disciplinary action. On the basis of court trial reports of 
the supervisors appointed by the committee, the chairman will bring cases before the disciplinary tribunal. The judicial pr ocess of the disciplinary enforcement 
procedure is provided for in the Act on disciplinary jurisdiction within the 
industrial organisation 2 004 which entered into e ffect on 1 April 2004. The 
disciplinary measures that can be taken in  the event of an infringement of the 
regulation include: (a) reprimands; (b) financial penalties up to € 4.500 
maximum; (c) publication of the ruling at the expense of the party involved; (d) 
putting stricter monitoring in place on th e farm of the party involved at the 
latter’s expense for two years maximum. If the value of the goods involved in the 
infringement, or the value of the unauthor ised benefit that has been derived, 
either wholly or in part, from the infringement exceeds € 1.135, a financial penalty can be imposed in the sum of maximum € 11.250. 
PL Not yet decided 
PT Non-compliance with the coexistence provisions constitutes an offence 
punishable by a fine whose minimum and maximum amounts will be € 250 and € 3.700, respectively, or € 2.500 and € 44.800 respectively, depending on whether 
the offender is an individual or legal entity. Depending on the gravity of the 
offence and level of blame of the offende r, the following accessory penalties may 
be applied together with the fines: (a) loss of objects belonging to the offender; 
(b) ban on practising professions or act ivities which depend on authorisation 
from the public authorities; (c) loss of the right to subsidies or benefits granted by public services or bodies; (c) closure of the establishment whose operation is 
subject to authorisation by the administrative author ities; (d) suspension of 
authorisations lic ences and permits. 
RO The legislation does not provide for penalties for non-compliance with the 
coexistence rules in force. 
SI (Draft measures) Legal persons shall be fined between € 1.000 and € 125.000 for 
an offence if they (a) cultivate GM crops without a decision authorising the 
cultivation of GM crops; (b) fail to repor t the data change, manage in the GM 
crop register in requisite deadline; (c) the production of GM crop is not in the 
accordance with the application, on the ba sis of which the person was registered 
in the Register of GM crop producers; (d) fail to take measures mentioned in the 
application for growing GM crop, on the basis of which the legal person was 
registered in the Register of GM cr op producers; (e) the undertakings of GM 
crop producers from the Article 9 pa ragraph, 2,3,4,5,6, of the Act are not 
fulfilled; (f) GM crop and non-GM crops, s ubject to an agreement on the area for 
cultivation of GM crops w ith the annual plan are not produced; (g) fail to take 
measures on the area for growing GM crops  (h) the undertakings  specified in the 
 
EN 61   EN written agreement on the cultivation of GM crops in a specific area are not 
fulfilled by the signatory of the agreemen t; (i) the data about persons who pass 
the examination or resuming training and about the delivery of a certificate or 
extension of a certificate of profe ssional competence respectively are not 
communicated to the Ministry. 
SK Penalties for non-compliance with the coexistence law range from 10.000 to 
1.000.000 SKK. 
SV Any infringement would be dealt with w ithin the justice system. There are no 
pre-decided penalty rates.  
 
 2. Monitoring programmes of th e co-existence legislation 
2.1. Monitoring programmes established followi ng the adoption of the legislation, and 
their outcome 
AT As there has been no cultivation of GM crops the monitoring programme is 
reduced to the production and marketing of certified seed  in Austria. It includes 
post control tests and random tests in orde r to prevent adventitious presence of 
GMOs in conventional seed and organic seed. 
BE Not yet applicable 
CY Not yet applicable  
CZ A monitoring programme applies for the cu ltivation of Bt maize. Since 2006, the 
Ministry of Agriculture (with  a support of regional ag ricultural agencies and the 
State Phytosanitary Authority) has checked on all of the notified fields with Bt 
maize whether farmers observe the mandato ry isolation distances (and/or buffer 
zones). On chosen fields samples were taken and than analyzed in a competent laboratory. The outcome of the contro ls: Most farmers grow Bt maize on 
locations where no conventional or organic maize is cultivated. In other cases, 
farmers use buffer zones to minimise gene-flow.  
DE The cultivation programmes are monitore d by the German Länder. The results 
are discussed at regular m eetings of the German competent authorities. No 
further recurrent eval uation is foreseen. 
DK In the agreement with the political part ies who adopted the law it was decided 
that the co-existence model should be evaluated two years after coming into 
force of the law (2005). The evaluation took place in 2007. Both the original scientific working group and the original group of stake holders participated in 
the work. This process resulted in an  update of the co-e xistence report of 2003 
with the title: “Supplementary Report from the Danish working Group on the Co-existence of Genetically Modified Crops  with Conventional and Organic Crops” 
from August 2007. Since there has not yet been any commercial cultivation of 
 
EN 62   EN GM crops in Denmark (In 2005 GM maize was cultivated on 1.1 ha as a part of a 
research project) the eval uation was mostly based on scientific data and 
experience with GM cultivation in ot her EU-countries. The outcome of the 
evaluation was a reduction of the cultivatio n distances for the crops included in 
the legislation (maize, beet and potatoes)  and, consequently, also a reduction of 
the compensation distances.  
ES There is a monitoring plan covering th e cultivation of GM maize varieties 
containing MON810. This plan was a pproved by the former Ministry of 
Agriculture after a report by the Nati onal Biosafety Committee. This plan 
includes the following aspects: The minimum duration of the plan  is 5 years. The 
plan should provide the Ministry of  Environment and Rural and Maritime 
Affairs, the National Biosafety Committ ee and the Autonomous Regions with all 
information concerning the distribution and sale of GM maize seeds. This 
information has to be provided at the end of each agricultural season. The monitoring plan also covers environmenta l effects linked to Bt maize cultivation 
(insufficient efficiency of the insectic idal effect; monitoring of resistance of 
populations of corn borers to  the Bt protein; effects on non-target populations).  
ET  Not yet applicable, however, a biosafety monitoring has been established 
covering oilseed rape.  
FI  Not yet applicable 
FR Considering the recent adoption of the law, no monitoring programme has been 
established yet. However, farmers w ho produced GM crops  in 2007 undertook to 
apply co-existence measures on a voluntary basis (50 m or 24 rows of non GM maize). A monitoring has been carried ou t by the Ministry of Agriculture to 
assess the application of th ese measures and their efficiency. The study included 
148 fields in Midi-Pyrénées and 83 fields in Aquitaine. Samples were taken from 
15 fields in Midi-Pyrénées and 4 fields in Aquitaine, and were analysed. The 
GMO content was below 0.9 % in most of  the samples analysed. Two samples 
were above 0.9 %. One of them corres ponded to a field wh ere the isolation 
measures recommended were not applied. The monitoring protocol has to be 
improved to take into account more para meters such as the cleaning of the 
seeder. The results are available on: 
 http://www.ogm.gouv.fr/savoir _plus/fiches/pdf/BILAN20072.pdf 
HU  Not yet applicable  
IR  Not yet applicable 
IT The guidelines foresee an ex-post monito ring of at least three years, which 
considers the risk of possible contam ination from gene flow, as well as 
environmental aspects (impact of GM cr op cultivation on the soil, possible water 
contamination, impact on animal a nd plant biodiversity), and possible 
contamination of food and feed a nd of the overall agri-system. 
LT Not yet applicable. Generally, the State Plant Protection Service is responsible 
for the control of GM crops (other than seed crops). A draft Order on monitoring 
 
EN 63   EN provisions is being prepared. 
LU Not yet applicable 
LV Not yet applicable. Generally, the State Plant Protection Service controls the 
cultivation of GM crops a nd the circulation of seeds of GM varieties. The Food 
and Veterinary Service controls the storage, preparation, packaging and 
transporting of GM fina l products. The State Envir onmental Service controls 
compliance with isolation distances to  protected territories of European 
significance (Natura 2000 places). The State Plant Protection Service is 
responsible for the testing of seed lots. Until now GMO  admixture to non-GM seeds has not been observed.  
NL Not yet applicable 
PL Not yet applicable  
PT An annual monitoring programme is c onducted by DGADR in collaboration with 
the regional agricultural serv ices, including control and in spection activities. This 
programme allows a general evaluation of  the level of compliance with the co-
existence legislation and the occurrence of  eventual problems, either with the 
trading of products or with third part ies not involved in the production of GM 
crops. The plan includes questionnaires di stributed to GM ma ize growers and the 
sampling of conventional maize fields  in their neighbourhood, in order to 
evaluate, through laboratory analysis, the adventitious presence of MON810. An 
official monitoring report is published annually since 2005. Reports are available 
at: www.dgadr.pt . The results of the sampling done on the conventional maize 
fields neighbouring the GM maize fields  have shown in 2007 that 38 % of the 
samples did not show any presence of  MON810, and, overall, the presence of 
this event was quantified to be belo w 0.9 %. No major problems have been 
found, neither with the implementation of the national rules or with the 
neighbours cultivating c onventional maize.  
RO The inspection and control programmes established by the Directorate of 
Technical Inspection and C ontrol of the Ministry of  Agriculture, included in 
2007 comprehensive inspections at GM maize growers in order to check 
compliance with the legislation. The followi ng aspects were verified: (a) the seed 
origin; (b) the distances be tween GM maize and conventio nal/organic maize;  (c) 
the phasing of the sowing time; (d) separa te storage of production; (e) handling 
and delivery of the production. The outcome  of these inspections proved that all 
GM maize growers were compliant with th e legislation in force. Since 2008, the 
Inspection and Control Programmes also c onducts analyses in order to establish 
the level of GMO admixture of conventional production.  
SK UKSUP, the Department of Seeds and Plan ting Materials controls GM seed use 
and GM crop cultivation as regards the sowing, harvest, storage, which also includes the sampling of neighbouring fields. UKSUP, the Department of 
Molecular Biology NRL performs the det ection and quantification of GMOs in 
field samples of conventional and/or or ganic production adjacent to GM crop 
fields.    
 
EN 64   EN SL  Not yet applicable. (Draft measures) Th e monitoring of uni ntentional presence 
of authorised GMOs in non-GM crops is  foreseen based on results of random 
sampling and testing of plants and their products, with special attention to areas 
where production of GM crops was notified. 
SV Not yet applicable 
 
2.2. Indication regarding the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the co-existence 
rules in place 
AT Not yet applicable 
BE Not yet applicable 
CY Not yet applicable  
CZ To date, court cases due to GMO admixt ure have not been noted. There was one 
claim by an affected operator: an orga nic maize producer decided not to grow 
organic maize in a distance of 2 kilome tres from a field of Bt maize.  
DE No negative experience or c ourt cases so far, apart from  one court case regarding 
bee keeping. The court criticised that special provisions for coexisting measures 
for bee keeping have not been included in the legislation. 
DK The involved group of stake holders, which included farmers and consumers 
organisations, agreed on the outcome of the evaluation. 
ES See point 4.2 
ET  Not yet applicable 
FI  Not yet applicable 
FR The analyses realised in 2007 showed th at the measures recommended (50 m or 
24 rows of non GM maize) are appropriate  regarding the labe lling threshold of 
0.9 %.    
HU Not yet applicable 
IR Not yet applicable 
IT Not yet applicable 
LT Not yet applicable 
LU Not yet applicable 
LV Not yet applicable 
 
EN 65   EN NL See point 6.1. Research resu lts indicate that the isolat ion distances chosen are 
appropriate. 
PL Not yet applicable 
PT In 2007, 62 questionnaires were given to farmers who cultivated GM maize, and 
the most relevant conclusions from the answers received are: (1) 76% of the 
participating farmers planted GM maize for the first time in 2007 and the main 
reason for their decision to sow this type of variety was the need to control the corn borers attacks. (2) 90% of the participating farmer s mentioned having 
problems controlling the corn borers attacks,  stressing that ther e is a maximum of 
3 generations of this plague per cu ltivation cycle and an average of 1.7 
generations per cultiv ation cycle.  This situation had required the farmers to use 
pesticide treatment, averaging 1.6 treatments per cultivation cycle and a maximum of 5 treatments per cultivation cy cle. (3) In terms of training received, 
95% of the farmers said it was sufficient; 98% considered the information contained in the seed packaging was cl arifying in regards to OGM, while 73% 
considered the information clarifying in regards to the co-existence regulation, and 69% were clarified in re gards to the traceability and labeling rules. (4) Only 
8% of the farmers considered that, in general, the national regulation on co-
existence is difficult to follow, stressi ng the information to neighbors as one of 
the most difficult aspects to perform. (5) All of the participating farmers showed 
understanding about the reason for the impl ementation of the refuge zones. (6) 
Most of the production obtained (61%) wa s intended to be placed on the market, 
while 25% of the production was used in the farm itself.  In 14% of the cases, the 
production was partially sold and partia lly used in the farm. Regarding the 
agricultural balance derived from the use of GM variet ies, the results were the 
following: (1) Ease of cultivation: 37% - Better; 50% - Same; 13% - Worse. (2) Pesticide application:  7% - Same or  more; 86% - Less. (3) Production: 69% - 
Higher; 26% - Same; 5% - Lower, with reasons not directly related to the 
varieties (soil drenching, late sowings). (4) Quality of product obtained: 86% - Better; 12% - Same; 0% - Worse. As re gards the economic balance derived from 
the use of GM varieties, the most importa nt aspects were, on the negative side, a 
higher cost of seed of these varieties and, on the positive side, a smaller number 
of pesticide treatments, an increase in production and a higher quality of the 
products obtained. 75% of the participa ting farmers indicated to continue the 
cultivation of GM maize, 1.6% do not  and 23.4% were not yet decided.  
No court cases had been registered due to GMO admixture to non-GM 
production. One court case is  still on going related to  a non GM- activist group 
destruction action against a GM maize field. 
RO In 2007, no claims of economic operators, or court cases due to GMO admixture 
to non-GM production were registered. 
SL Not yet applicable 
SV Not yet applicable 
 
 
EN 66   EN 3. List of national co-existence legislation in force  
 
Member 
State Title and reference of legislation 
 
Salzburger Gentechnik-Vorsorgege setz, LGBl. Nr. 75, dated 10.9.2004  
Kärntner Gentechnik-Vorsorgege setz, LGBl. Nr. 5, dated 28.1.2005 
Burgenländisches Gentechnik-Vorsorge gesetz, LGBl. Nr. 64, dated 29.07.2005  
Tyroler Gentechnik-Vorsorgegese tz, LGBl. Nr. 36, dated 9.3.2005  
Niederösterreichisches Gentechnikvor sorgegesetz, LGBl. Nr. 81, dated 
31.8.2005  
Wiener Gentechnik-Vorsorgegese tz, LGBl. Nr. 53, dated 21.9.2005 
Oberösterreichisches Gentechnik-Vo rsorgegesetz, LGBl. Nr. 79/2006, dated 
6.7.2006 
Steiermärkisches Gentechnik-Vors orgegesetz, LGBl. Nr. 97/2006, dated 
11.8.2006 
AT In Vorarlberg the Gesetz über Natu rschutz und Landschaftsentwicklung, LGBl. 
Nr. 22/1997, deals with the cultivation of GMO. 
BE Décret du 19 juin 2008 rela tif à la coexistence des cultures génétiquement 
modifiées avec les cultures conventi onnelles et les cultures biologiques. 
Moniteur belge du 08/08/2008.  
Act No. 441/2005 Coll. on Agricultur e (amended Act No. 252/1997 Coll. on 
Agriculture) 
CZ Decree on more detailed requirements for cultivation of GM variety  
DE Verordnung über die gute fachliche Praxis bei der Erzeugung gentechnisch 
veränderter Pflanzen (Gentechnik- Pflanzenerzeugungsverordnung (Gentechnik-
Pflanzenerzeugungsverordnung vom 7. Ap ril 2008 (BGBl. I S. 655))  
Act on Growing etc. of GM Crops  
Executive Order on the Growing etc. of GM Crops.  
Executive Order on Compensation for Losse s due to Certain Occurrences of 
GM Material.  
Executive Order on the Growing etc.  of GM Crops References.  
DK Executive Order on Compensation for Losse s due to Certain Occurrences of 
 
EN 67   EN GM Material.  
FR Law 2008-595 published in the Fr ench Official Journal on 26.08.2008 
 Act Nr. CVII. of 2006 on the amendment of the Act Nr. XXVII. of 1998 on 
gene technological activit y. Official Journal of H ungary Nr. 2006/150 (XII. 7.) 
HU Regulation of the Ministry of Agricu lture and Rural Development Nr. 86/2006. 
(XII. 23.) on the coexistence of GM , conventional and ecological crops. 
Official Journal of Hunga ry Nr. 2006/161(XII. 23.) 
Law No 5, of 28/01/2005, conversion in la w with modifications of the law by 
decree No 279 of 22 November 2004, providi ng urgent indications to ensure the 
coexistence among the transgenic and conventional or or ganic agriculture, 
published in the Official Journal No 22 of 28/1/2005. 
IT The legislative competence in the matter of coexistence rules is regional, as 
established by the Constitutional Court with judgement No 116 delivered on 
17th March 2006, which on the basis of this opinion has repelled most of the law No 5/2005. 
Order of Minister of Agri culture No 3D-1 Concerning Approval of the Rules on 
GM Plants Intended to Be Grown in Lithuania Declaring and Information 
Providing. Official Journal „Valstyb ės žinios“ No 5-236 (2007). 
Order of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment No 3D-504/D1-
608 Concerning Approval of the Rules on Coexistence of GM Crops with 
Conventional and Organic Crops . Official Journal „Valstyb ės žinios“ No 121-
4978 (2007). 
LT Order of the Head of State Seed and Grain Service under the Ministry of 
Agriculture No 1A-235 Concerning th e Rules on the Inspection of the GM 
agricultural plants seed crops, nurse ries of propagating materials of 
horticultural and ornamental plants. A nnex of the Official Journal „Valstyb ės 
žinios“ No 3-48 (2005). 
Loi du 18 mars 2008 sur la commercialisati on des semences et plants ainsi que 
sur la coexistence des cultures généti quement modifiées, conventionnelles et 
biologiques. Journal Offici el du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 27 mars 2008, 
p. 446. 
LU Règlement grand-ducal du 22 juillet 2008 fixant les distances d’isolement et les 
conditions techniques à respecter lors de la mise en culture de semences et 
plants génétiquement modifies. Jour nal Officiel du Grand-Duché de 
Luxembourg, 20 août 2008, p.1824 
LV Regulation No. 30, Adopted 15 Janua ry 2008, Regulation regarding the 
Requirements for Coexistence of GM Crops, as well as the Procedures for Supervision and Control. Zi ņotājs No.4, 28.02.2008. 
NL HPA Regulation on the coexistence of  crops of the Commodity Board for 
 
EN 68   EN Arable Farming. JBA. No 322. 
Decree-law 160/2006, of 21 September, on national measures on coexistence of 
GM crops with conventional and organic farming published in official journal. 
Order n. º 904/2006, of 3 December, for th e establishment of free zones of GM 
crop cultivation 
Order n.º1611/2007, of 20 December 
PT Decree-Law 387/2007, of 28 November, whic h creates a compensation fund to 
cover any economic damage, caused by adventitious presence of GMO on non 
GM crops if the labelling threshold (0.9 %) is exceeded. 
Order no. 237 of 7 April 2006 on author ising economic agents to grow GM 
crops, issued by the Minister of Agricu lture and Rural Development. Official 
Journal of Romania, Part I, no. 337 from 14 April 2006 
RO Order no 471 from 14 July 2006. Official Journal of Romania, Part I, no. 663 
from 2 August 2006. 
Act No. 184/2006 of 16. Marc  2006 on the cultivation of  genetically modified 
crops in agricultural production. Zb ierka zákonov (National Journal), 68, xx. 
7.2007 p.1118 -1121 
SK Decree No. 69/2007 of 14 August 2006, Slovak Republic Ministry of 
Agriculture implementing Act No. 184/ 2006 Coll. on the cultivation of 
genetically modified crops in agri cultural production, witch was notified 
according to article 1 Directive 98/34/EC of  the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of 
information in the field of technical standards and regula tions. Zbierka zákonov 
(National Journal), 43, xx. 7.2007 p. 494 -495 
Ordinance on precautionary measures for the cultivation and transport etc., of 
GM crops (SFS 2007:273). Issued on 10th of May 2007 
SV Administrative provision of the Swedis h Board of Agriculture on precautionary 
measures for the cultivation of GM crops (SJVFS 2008:34) Issued on 26th of 
June 2008.  
 
4. Commercial experience with  GM maize cultivation 
4.1. Surface of GM maize cultivation and development over time 
AT No cultivation yet 
BE Flanders: No cultivation yet 
 Wallonia: No cultivation yet 
 
EN 69   EN CY No cultivation yet 
CZ Commercial cultivation started in 2005. Acreage: 2005: 270 ha; 2006: 1.290 ha; 
2007: 5.000 ha, 2008: 8.400 ha (the acreag e for 2008 still to be refined). 
DE Commercial cultivation started in 2 005. Acreage: 2005: 340 ha; 2006: 946 ha; 
2007: 2.685 ha; 2008: 3.371 ha. 
DK Apart from 1.1 ha with GM maize in 2005 - cu ltivated as part of  the EU research 
project ECOGEN - there is no commercial  cultivation of GM maize in Denmark 
yet. 
EE No cultivation yet 
ES Commercial cultivation started in 1998. Per centage of GM maize relative to total 
maize area: 2004: 12.14 %; 2005: 12.50 %;  2006: 14.76 %; 2007: 21.18 %; 2008: 
22.11%. GM maize acreage for 2008: 79.269 ha. 
FI No cultivation yet 
FR MON810 is cultivated on significant surfaces since 2005. Acreage: 2005: 500 ha; 
2006: 5.000 ha; 2007: 22.000 ha; 2008: 0 
HU No cultivation yet 
IR No cultivation yet 
IT No cultivation yet 
LT No cultivation yet 
LU No cultivation yet 
LV No cultivation yet 
NL No cultivation yet 
PL There are no official data confirming GM maize cultivation.  
PT Commercial cultivation started in 2005. Acreage: 2005: 772 ha; 2006: 1.254 ha; 
2007: 4.199 ha; 2008: 4.851 ha (surface registered until 25 July 2008)  
RO GM maize cultivation started in 2007. Acreage: 2007: 331 ha; 2008: 7.146 ha 
SI No cultivation yet 
SK Commercial cultivation started in 2006. Acreage: 2006: 33 ha; 2007: 947 ha; 
2008: 1940 ha. 
SV No cultivation yet 
 
 
EN 70   EN 4.2. Identified problems in relation to  commercial GM maize production  
AT  Not applicable 
BE  Flanders and Wallonia: Not applicable 
CY  Not applicable 
CZ The three-year experience of  the Czech farmers growing Bt maize in 2005-2007 
appears positive. We can observe a decr ease in the European corn borer ( Ostrinia 
nubilalis ) infestation and decrease in the Fusarium  (possibly carrying 
mycotoxins) infestation as a secondary eff ect in Bt maize. There are also noticed 
higher yields of Bt maize (on average by 10 %), but not in every lo cation. On the 
other hand, Czech farmers identify some pr oblems in relation to commercial GM 
maize production: increased administration (mandatory notification of fields) and 
organization (segregation measures) on farm, increased seed costs, direct (maize) 
and indirect (milk) problems with  selling of the final product. 
DE Commercial cultivation provokes fierce di scussions in society and sometimes 
even acts of damage of property. A huge  part of the population does not have 
much faith in the effectiveness of co-exi stence measures. This is especially true 
for bee keeping. 
DK Not applicable 
EE Not applicable 
ES There is no agreement between stake holders on whether a regulation on co-
existence is required or not . There is a general percep tion that there have not 
been any significant problems among farm ers as regards co-existence. Organic 
farmers could face some problems resulting from the zero tolerance for GMO content in the certificati on of organic products. However, the importance of 
organic maize in Spain is very limited a nd, therefore, the issue is at present not 
seen as being very significant.     
FI Not applicable 
FR Some farmers or associa tions are opposed to comme rcial GM maize production, 
anti-GMO actions including de structions are carried out. 
HU Not applicable 
IR Not applicable 
IT Not applicable 
LT Not applicable 
LU Not applicable 
LV Not applicable 
 
EN 71   EN NL Not applicable 
PL Such problems are not identified up to now. 
PT 2007 was marked by the destruction of a GM  maize field in Algarve, which was 
duly condemned by the Minist er of Agriculture, and by various entities and 
organizations connected to agriculture and by society in general. No other 
problems have been identified until now. 
RO Up to now there have not been a ny registered problems on GM maize 
comercialisation. 
SI Not applicable 
SK No problems identified. 
SV Not applicable 
 
4.3. Impact of the adopted co-exi stence legislation on the introduction of GM crops  
AT  Not applicable 
BE  Flanders and Wallonia: Not applicable 
CY  Not applicable 
CZ It is difficult to judge the real impact of co-existence legislation as it has been in 
place since commercial growing of Bt mai ze started in the Czech Republic in 
2005. However, it is highly possible that the Bt maize area would have increased 
significantly more in case there would ha ve not been any binding co-existence 
legislation in the Czech Republic.  
DE None 
DK  Not applicable 
EE  Not applicable 
ES Not applicable 
FI  Not applicable 
FR It is too early to answer this question. 
HU  Not applicable 
IR  Not applicable 
IT  Not applicable 
 
EN 72   EN LT  Not applicable 
LU  Not applicable 
LV  Not applicable 
NL  Not applicable 
PL There are no data on this point 
PT The cultivation of GM maize started in  2005, and at that time already a draft 
legislation was discussed w ith the stakeholders, so de spite the fact that the 
legislation had entered in force late Se ptember (in the maize harvest season), the 
seed companies had published a leaflet with  some recommendations, in line with 
the draft measures, to farmers, that in  general have been fulfilled. After the 
national co-existence legislation entered into force an increase of GM maize 
cultivation was registered, a nd this is continued since 2005. 
RO GM maize cultivation increased from  331 ha in 2007 (commercial crop) to 
7146,44 ha in 2008. 
SI The Act is in the phase of adoption, so there is no information about the 
influence of future legislation to GM maize cultivation. There is no ban on GM maize cultivation in Slovenia. 
SK The adoption of the co-existence legisl ation in 2006 was a precondition for GM 
maize cultivation, but there is not a dire ct correlation with  an increase in 
cultivation. 
SV  Not applicable 
 
 
5. Cross-border issues 
5.1. Cooperation with neighbouring Member States  in order to addr ess the cross-border 
implications of the different national co -existence regimes 
AT Requests for collaboration were addre ssed to neighbouring regions in other 
Member States. The answers were only to  a different extent satisfying. It would 
be desirable to create an internet access to all intended cultivations of GM crops 
that are to be notified. At least the distance in kilometres from the borders where GMO are cultivated should be available. So far, cases about economic damage in Austria are not known. 
Flanders: Discussions with neighbouring countries/regions will be held shortly after the adoption of the decree. 
BE Wallonia: None 
 
EN 73   EN CY No neighbouring Member States  
CZ There is some cooperation in place in te rms of information ex change (especially 
with Austria and Germany).  
DE None. The affected German Länder are in  contact with the relevant neighbouring 
States in order to get information on GM crop cultivation close to the boarder in those States. 
DK Denmark and the German state Schleswig-Holstein have established contact and 
had a meeting in order to discu ss cross-border co-existence issues. 
EE None 
ES None 
FI None 
FR None 
HU No cooperation has been established w ith neighbouring Member States yet in 
order to address cross-border issues. However, we consider cross-border 
implications as an important issue and intend to work on the establishment of close cooperation with all neighbouri ng Member States in this regard. 
IR Yes 
IT None. (Draft measures) The guidelines ad vise that in areas close to borders 
among regional administrations the more re strictive isolation measures should be 
adopted by the administrations involved  and, in the case of borders between 
States, specific bilatera l agreements have to la unched involving also the 
concerned regions. 
LT None 
LU First contacts have been established 
LV None 
NL There have been first talks with the German “Länder” e.g. North Rhine 
Westphalia. There is also contact with Denmark and Belgium (Flanders), but at 
this moment no regular cross-border  cooperation has been established. 
PL None 
PT None 
RO None 
SI None 
 
EN 74   EN SK None 
SV We do not consider that the cultivation of  GM maize or potato in Sweden would 
have any implications in neighbour ing countries. Ther e has been no 
communication, discussion or coopera tion with neighbouring countries. 
 
5.2. Documented cases of economic damage resu lting from cross-border admixture of 
GMOs or other observations of cross-border admixture 
BE  Flanders and Wallonia: None 
CY None 
CZ None 
DE None 
DK No, but as part of the Co-Extra proj ect a case study on cross-border admixture 
across the Danish-German border has been carried out: http://www.coextra.eu/library/deliverables.html
 (first report under WP7). 
EE None 
ES None 
FI None 
FR None 
HU None 
IR None 
IT None 
LT None 
LU None 
LV None 
NL None 
PL None 
PT None 
RO None 
 
EN 75   EN SI None  
SK None 
SV None 
 
5.3. Claims that operators have difficulties im plementing co-existence measures in the 
close vicinity to a border 
BE Flanders and Wallonia: None 
CY None 
CZ None 
DE None 
DK None 
EE None 
ES None 
FI None 
FR None 
HU None 
IR None 
LT None 
LU None 
LV None 
NL None 
PL None 
PT None 
RO None 
SI None 
SK None 
SV None 
 
EN 76   EN  
6. National research activities on co-existence 
6.1. Relevant supporting research for the d evelopment of co-existence measures  
AT Seed production in segregated production processes to avoid contamination with 
GMOs in the context of the co-existence of conventional farmi ng with or without 
GMOs and organic farming (by Girsch, L., I. Kramberger, H. Felder, R. 
Hochegger, K. Mechtler, A. Ratze nböck und J. Taferner, published AGES, 
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, in May 2004) - In the study the problems and interaction involved in horizon tal and vertical co-existence in seed 
production are presented. Actual soluti on approaches are offered for seed 
production co-existence management in Austria for the processed crop types 
maize, soybean, oilseed rape, sugar beet  and potatoes. The study primarily deals 
with the aspect of genetic quality in s eeds and plant propagating material. Special 
attention is given to ascertain, assess and avoid genetic contamination in seeds 
(variety identity and purity). A system was developed in Austria by the Institute 
for Seed and implemented in collaborati on with multiplier organisations and seed 
multipliers to ensure the requirements of variety purity and thus preservation of 
seed production being free of contamin ation of other genetic sources.  
Koexistenz von gentechnisch verände rten, konventionellen und biologisch 
angebauten Kulturpflanzen in der Österreichischen Landwirtschaft - 
Handlungsempfehlungen aus ökologischer Sicht (by Dr. Kathrin Pascher und Mag. Marion Dolezel, published by Bunde sministerium für Gesundheit, Famile 
und Jugend in 2005) - The study deals with th e field crops maize, oilseed rape and 
sugar beet. The aim of the study was the compilation and evaluation of different 
sources of GMO contamination in conven tional or organic production systems as 
well as the assessment of the extent of such contamination. Moreover, for each of 
the three field crops mentioned, Austria- specific co-existence measures were 
compiled as a first help for orientation considering scientific  facts. Experience 
with co-existence from other countries (U SA, Canada), which have already been 
growing GM crops for several years were used in order to draw up co-existence 
measures. The proposed measures were evaluated according to their effectiveness and feasibility in different growing areas of  the respective field crops in Austria.  
Untersuchungen zur Fremdbefruchtungsrate in Maiskulturen unter 
Berücksichtigung der Umwelten in den Hauptanbaugebieten Österreichs (by 
Girsch, L., N. Angerer, N. Balarezo, J. Ha rtmann, C. Kargl, K. Mayr, H. Nagl, H. 
Zimmermann, H. Strelec, G. Laaha, published by AGES, Universität für Bodenkultur, 2006) - This study was execute d in view of the implementation of 
scientific based directives for a co -existence management . A field design 
representative for a natural cultivation s ituation of maize in Austria was selected. 
On the one hand the maximum external gene flow as a successful fertilization in a 
castrated pollen acceptor field was meas ured on the other hand the specified 
genetic impurity caused by a successful unwan ted internal gene flow (based on 
seed impurity) plus a successful external gene flow as cross-fertilization in a 
conventional waxy maize field was measured. The average of the successful fertilization related to th e entire pollen acceptor fiel d was between 4.5 % and 97.5 
%. The level of genetic impurity resul ting from internal (seed impurity) and 
 
EN 77   EN external gene flow in the waxy maize fi elds was in average related between 1.8 % 
and 5.9 %. The highest correlation was observed when measuring the distance 
between the field border of the pollen donor field and the centre of the pollen 
acceptor field and it seems to be the most suitable way to define distances between 
a GMO-field and a non-GMO-field in co-existence management. 
BE Flanders: In April 2004, a general study on GMOs in Fl anders by the Flemish 
administration was executed (http://lv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/defau lt.asp?id=530). No further specific 
research (commissioned by the government) in the scope of the development of 
the co-existence legislation in Flanders. 
DE The Federal Research Program for S ecuring Coexistence is executed by the 
Federal Research Centre for Cultivated  Plants – Julius Kuehn Institute and 
commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). State partner is  the Agricultural Technology Center, 
commissioned by the Mini sterium für Ernährung und Ländlichen Raum, Baden-
Württemberg. 
Langhof, M; Hommel, B.; Hüsken, A.; Schi emann, J.; Wehling, P.; Wilhelm, R.; 
Rühl, G.2008: Coexistence in Maize: Do non-maize buffer zones reduce gene 
flow between maize fields? Crop Sci. 48, p. 305 – 316. 
Langhof, M. und Rühl, G. 2008: Auskreuz ungsstudien bei Mais: Überblick, 
Bewertung, Forschungsbedarf. Berichte über Landwirtschaft 86 (1), S. 29 – 67. 
The field experiments aim at establishing a scientific data base for coexistence of 
GM and non-GM crops under the climatic conditions in Germany. The current focus is directed on maize, since severa l gm-varieties of th is crop are already 
permitted in Europe. For this purpose different parameters are under investigation: isolation distances (24, 51, 78, 102, 150 m); non-maize buffer crops (grass/clover, 
cereals, sunflower); non-GM maize buffer ro ws at the border of the gm-field (12 
vs. 24 rows); GM : non-GM field depth (1:1 vs. 2:1); orientation of the 
experimental plots to each other; so wing orientation of non-GM field (rows 
parallel and upright in respect to th e GM field). The field experiments are 
generally designed as ‘worst case’ scenar ios. Generally, all relevant data like 
flowering of male and female florescen ce of GM and non-GM maize, wind speed 
and direction, temperature, and rainfall during flowering are observed. Data are 
used from BMELV for regulations in  respect to good farming practice in 
cultivation of GM crops. 
DK For the purpose of revising the Danish co -existence rules the original scientific 
working group on co-existence was reassemb led in order to upda te its scientific 
report on co-existence from 2003. Its fi ndings have been published in the 
Supplementary Report from the Danish Working Group on the Coexistence of 
GM Crops with Conventional and Organic Crops from 2007: 
http://web.agrsci .dk/djfpublikation/ djfpdf/djfma131.pdf. 
ES In previous years, a number of studies  on co-existence have been conducted, 
mainly on maize. The most revelant are:  
 
EN 78   EN Melé, E, Ballester, J. Peñas, G. Folch, I. Olivar, J. Alcalde, E. & Messeguer, J. 
2004. First Results of Co-existen ce Study. Euro/Biotech/News 3:8. 
Melé, E., G. Peñas, J. Serra, J. Salvia, J. Ballester, M. Bas, M.  Palaudelmàs, and J. 
Messeguer. 2005. Quantification of pollen ge ne flow in large maize fields by 
using a kernel colour trait. pp289-291. In Antoine Messéan (ed), Proc. 2nd. 
International Conference on Co-exist ence between GM and non-GM based 
agricultural supply chains. Ed. Agropo lis Productions. Mont pellier, France. 
Pla M, La Paz JL, Peñas G, García N, Palaudelmàs M, Esteve T, Messeguer J & 
Melé E. (2006) Assessment  of real-time PCR based methods for quantification of 
pollen-mediated gene flow from GM to conventional maize in a field study. 
Transgenic Research :15:218-228. 
Messeguer, J., G. Peñas, J. Ballester, M. Bas, J. Serra, J. Salvia, M. Palaudelmàs, 
and E. Melé. 2006. Pollen-mediated gene fl ow in maize in real situations of 
coexistence. Plant Biotechnology Journal 4:633-645. 
Palaudelmàs M, Messeguer J, Peñas G, Serra J, Salvia J, Pla M, Nadal A and Melé 
E. 2007. Effect of sowing and floweri ng dates on maize gene flow. Third 
international conference on coexistence between genetically modified (GM) and 
non-GM based agricultural supply chains  (GMCC-07). Sevilla, Spain. Book of 
Abstracts in: http://www.co existence-conference.org/ 
Melé E, Peñas G, Palaudelmàs M, Serra J, Salvia J, Pla M, Nadal A and 
Messeguer J. 2007. Effect of volunteers on ma ize gene flow. Third international 
conference on coexistence between geneti cally modified (GM) and non-GM based 
agricultural supply chains (GMCC-07). Se villa, Spain. Book of Abstracts in: 
http://www.coexistence-conference.org/ 
Messeguer J, Palaudelmàs M, Peñas G, Serra J, Salvia J, Ballester J, Bas M, Pla 
M, Nadal A and Melé E. 2007. Three year st udy of a real situation of coexistence 
in maize. Third international conferen ce on coexistence between genetically 
modified (GM) and non-GM based agri cultural supply chains (GMCC-07). 
Sevilla, Spain. Book of Ab stracts in: http://www.coex istence-conference.org/ 
Ortega Jose I. Coexistence of Genetic ally Modified, conv entional and organic 
crops, VIENA (Austria), del 4 al 6 de  abril de 2006. Ponencia titulada: The 
Spanish experience with co-existence after eight years of cultiv ation of GM maíze. 
Book of Abstracts in: http://www. coexistence-conference.org/ 
Ortega Jose I. Second international C onference about Co-existence between GM 
and non-GM based agricultural supply chai ns (GMCC 05), Montpellier (Francia), 
14 y 15 de Noviembre de 2.005. Ponencia t itulada: The Spanish Experience. Book 
of Abstracts in: http://www. coexistence-conference.org/ 
FI Enabling the Coexistence of GM Crops a nd Conventional and Organic Farming in 
Finland. Mid-Term Report, 31 May 2005, Expert Work Group on Coexistence, Ministry of Agriculture a nd Forestry, Finland, 88 p., 
http://wwwb.mmm.fi/julkaisut/tyoryhmamuistiot/2005/trm2005_9a.pdf . 
 
EN 79   EN The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  appointed an Expert Working Group in 
February 2004 to prepare the recommendati ons for measures and instructions for 
enabling the coexistence of GM, conventiona l and organic agricu lture in Finland. 
The task of the Expert Wo rk Group was to draw up a re port on: (a) Agronomical 
measures enabling coexistence. The study must be founded on sc ientific evidence 
on the likelihood of the admixture of GM and other crops and sources of 
admixture. (b) Economic impacts of coexis tence and sharing of  responsibilities. 
Coexistence measures must be functioni ng and cost-efficient. Measures may not 
cause unreasonable economic consequences  to farmers or seed producers. The 
Working Group had also to go through the Finnish legislation on liability for 
damage to see whether this provides sufficient and equal opportunities to the 
different parties to practice their busine ss. (c) Regional measures, which should be 
applied to crop species and types of production applicable  for the Finnish 
conditions (e.g. seed production vs. other crop production). The regional aspects 
to be accounted for also include the share, number and type of GM crops in the region, climate conditions, soil, topogra phy, crop rotation and farm structure as 
well as the surrounding area, such as forests, uncultiv ated land and location of 
arable lands. (d) Administrative decisions  and changes in the legislation which 
may be needed as well as new control and inspection systems to be introduced. 
Muuntogeenisten viljelykasvien sekä tavanomaisen ja luonnonmukaisen 
maataloustuotannon rinnakkaiselon mahdo llistaminen Suomessa. Rinnakkaiselon 
ohjaustyöryhmän loppuraportti, 12.12.2005, M aa- ja metsätalousministeriö, 51 s. 
[Enabling the Coexistence of GM Crops  and Conventional and Organic Farming 
in Finland. Final Report, Dec. 12, 2005, Gu idance Panel on Coexis tence, Ministry 
of Agriculture and Forestr y, Finland, 51 p. In Finnish], 
http://wwwb.mmm.fi/julkaisut/tyoryhmamuistiot/2005/trm2005_16.pdf. The report contains essentially the information presented in the Mid-term report (see above), accompanied with juridical and economical studies and recommendations 
for the outlines of the legislative meas ures necessary for or ganizing coexistence 
practices in Finland.  
Erkki Hollo (2006). Maatalouden tuotanto muotojen keskinäissuhteista aiheutuva 
vastuu. Oikeudellista vastuuta koske va selvitys (MTVO). Maa- ja 
metsätalousministeriö, kesäkuu 2006, 41 s. [L iability originating from the mutual 
relations between different production systems in agricult ure. A study of juridical 
liability. Prof. Erkki Holl o, Univ. of Helsinki. Mini stry of Agriculture and 
Forestry, June 2006, 41 p. In Finnish], http://wwwb.mmm.fi/julkaisut/muut/MTVO.pdf . 
Jussi Tuomisto (2005). Coexistence of  GM and non-GM potato varieties on 
Finnish potato farms – potential costs and remedies, 9th ICABR International 
Conference on Agricultural Biotechnology: Ten Years Later. Ravello  (Italy), July 
6 to July 10, 2005, 21 p., www.economia.uniroma2.it/conferenze/ icabr2005/papers/Tuomisto.pdf . 
FR INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) participates in the 
European programmes COEXTRA and SIGMEA.  
Arvalis (a technical research institute) has carried out research for three years 
 
EN 80   EN (2002-2004) on Bt maize. The aim of the programme (POECB: programme 
opérationnel d'évaluation des cultures issues  des biotechnologies) was to study the 
feasibility of coexistence between GM  crops and non GM crops, to study the 
benefits of Bt maize, to set up procedures  to ensure traceability from the field to 
feed products. http://www.agpm.com/en/iso_album/poecb_1.pdf 
HU Research regarding maize pollen flow was carried out in 2003. The original goal 
was to define an appropriate isolation di stance for Part B releases. The research 
was published in Hungarian in 2004 with the following title: “Study on GM maize 
pollen flow” (see annexed to this docum ent). The Central Agricultural Office 
issued a book with the title  "Gene technology and product safety". One chapter of 
the book contains the polle n flow study results. 
IT The Region of Piemonte requested to the University of Torino a study with the 
title “Introduction of GM crop cultivation in Piemonte: agronomic, cultivation and 
chain organization aspects”, which was car ried out in 2007. The objective of the 
study was, amongst others, an evaluation of  the impact on the agricultural system 
of Piemonte resulting from the introducti on of GM crop cultivation. Different 
scenarios were formulated with a variation of factors, such as prices, yields and coexistence measures. The rese arch institutions involved in the preparation of the 
study are: the Department of Valorisati on and Protection of the Agri-Forestry 
Resources, the Department of Agricultu re, Forestry and Management of the 
Territory, the Department of Economy, the Institute of Social and Economic 
Research. 
"Research on the knowledge concerning th e potential impact on the territory of 
Toscana resulting from to the introduction of GMOs and the effects on ecosystems, the rural economy and the in stitutional system" by ARSIA, Region of 
Toscana; Year: 2004-2006; scientific coor dinator: Professor Marcello Buiatti, 
University of Florence, Department of Animal Genetic Biology "Leo Pardi".  
“Coexistence between GM crop cultivation with conventional and organic crops in 
the context of the agriculture of Umbria”,  University Of Perugia, with Professor 
Fabio Veronesi. 
NL In 2006 and 2007, field trials were performe d to address the effects of the two 
isolation distances indicated by the Dutch Coexistence Committee, i.e. 25 m between GM and conventional maize cu ltivation, and 250 m between GM and 
deliberately non-GM (e.g. organic) mai ze cultivation, on pollen-mediated gene 
flow (PMGF) under realistic agronomical conditions in The Netherlands. Levels 
of the transgene in grain samples from the receptor fields were measured by a validated real-time PCR quantification method for the MON810 event. Each 
isolation distance was tested at three different locations across The Netherlands in both years. For testing PMGF with the 25 m isolation distance, GM source fields 
of 100 x 100 m (1 ha) were surrounded at all four sides by equally sized non-GM 
receptor fields at a distance of 25 m. Fo r testing PGMF with the 250 m isolation 
distance, 1-ha GM source fields were  surrounded by 50 x 50 m (0.25) ha receptor 
fields in four different directions at 250 m. For the GM source field, the maize 
variety DKc3421YG containing the MON810 event was used  with both distances. 
A maize cultivar near-isogenic to the GM cultivar was grown in the receptor fields to obtain good flowering synchronicity be tween GM and non-GM maize and thus 
 
EN 81   EN optimal conditions for PGMF. Analyses showed the following levels of grain 
admixture as a consequence of PMGF, av eraged across twelve fields for each 
isolation distance tested: at 25 m 0.084 % (individual field averages ranged 
between 0.009 % and 0.296 %) in 2006 a nd 0.080% (0.002 % to 0.318 %) in 
2007, resp., and at 250 m 0.005 % (individual field averages ranged between 0 and 
0.040 %) in 2006 and 0.007 % (0 to 0.037 %)  in 2007, resp. Although weather 
conditions were quite diffe rent between 2006 and 2007 (a hot and dry summer in 
2006 vs. a relatively wet one in 2007), outcr ossing rates did not differ significantly 
between years. 
PL The programme „Environment and economical  aspects of GM crops in Poland” 
will be realised under the supervision of th e Ministry of Science. This research 
will be executed by national scientific in stitutions. Moreover, the Plant Breeding 
and Acclimatisation Institute, supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, will 
realise in the framework of  its multi-annual scientific  programme, work on the 
subject „Assessment of in troducing GM plants into agricultural production”. 
RO Elena Marcela Badea and P.I. Otima n, 2006. GM plants in agriculture. 
Agronomic, ecologic and economic impact s. P. 1-219, Mirton Edit., Timisoara. 
The book is an introduction for Romani an readers regarding the factors, 
conditions, and modalities that have gene rated spectacular growth of using GM 
crops in the world. The authors present the most recent and relevant information of interest for farmers, information c oncerning the agronomic (technological), 
ecological and economic advantages asso ciated with the use of the products 
obtained through modern biotechnology. A special chapter of this book is 
dedicated to gene flow in  connection with coexistence measures. The information 
found in this book also addr esses and it is useful to  those involved in the 
authorization process, risk asse ssment and monitoring of GM crops. 
Bodea, Monica, L.A. M ărghitaş, D.Pamfil, D. Dezmirean, I. Ha ş, C. Coroian, L. 
Muntean, Rodica Pop, 2007. The efficiency of different DNA is olation protocols 
in six cultivars of oilseed rape (B rassica napus). International Beekeeping 
Symposium, May, 3-5, 2007. University of Ag ricultural Sciences and Veterinary 
Medicine, Cluj-Napoca. The main aim of this study was to obtain a high purity of 
DNA from six cultivars of Bra ssica napus. This was a firs t step for future studies 
to use RADP and AFLP fingerprinting for revealing gene flow via pollination of 
oilseed rape.  
Săndoiu, D.I., V.G. Ghi ţă, Nicoleta Dumitrescu, Mihaela Obri şca, 2006. The 
agronomic impact of using some GMP in  Romanian agricultu re: GM soybean - 
herbicide resistance. Communications at  Romanian Academy with the theme 
“Agriculture biotechnology in Romania” October, 11, 2006. The authors present a 
study about the coexistence of GM s oybean – herbicide resistance with 
conventional and organic farming. http://www.academiaromana.ro/com2006/docBioteh/c05-DumitruSandoiu.ppt 
Elena Marcela Badea, Ro şca I., Mado şă E., Cioc ăzanu I., 2004. Romanian 
Biosafety Research: Current Approaches  and Developments. In: J.P. Nap, A. 
Atanasov, W. Stiekema, eds., Genomics for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology: 
New Challenges, IOS Press, NATO Science Series, Serie 1, Life and Behavioral 
Sciences, vol. 359, 191-199. The study us ed non-GM maize for assessing the 
 
EN 82   EN pollen flow in the western part of th e country (Agricultural University – 
Timisoara). A sweet maize line (susu) was placed at 7 different  distances (0.7; 20; 
40; 60; 80; 100; 150 and 200 m) in all four directions from a central source of 
normal pollen (SuSu). To evaluate the fr equency of gene flow at different 
distances from pollen source, all ears from  the sweet maize capture strips were 
harvested at maturity and the number of normal and sweet grains on each cob was 
counted. On the average, the cumulative pol len capture at a distance of 40 m was 
over 90 % in all directions, except for the East, with a variation from 20 to 100 m. 
The results suggested that the conditi on for coexistence could be achieved. 
SI Meglič, V., Šuštar Vozli č, J., Čergan, Z., Zagorac, B. Coex istence of genetically 
modified plants with conventional and biological production (2005) Agricultural 
Institute of Slovenia, commissioned by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and 
Forestry. The aim of the study was to prepare guidelines for the development of strategies for coexistence in Slovenia and the development of optimal technologies 
for coexistence of GM crops with co nventional and organic crop production under 
the specific conditions of Slovenian ag riculture. The study was elaborated on the 
basis of EU legislation and guidelines re specting the current Slovenian legislation 
in this field. The outcome of the study wa s that coexistence is possible. In the 
agriculture production system the princi ples of good agricultural practice should 
be introduced in all the steps of the production chain from farm to fork. The 
importance of conducting research and field trials also in Slovenia was stressed. 
Žel, J. Strategy of coexistence of GM  crops with conventional and ecological 
agriculture (2006), Nationa l institute of Biology, Ve čna pot 111, Ljubljana, 
commissioned by Ministry of Scien ce and technology and Ministry of 
Environment and Spatial Planning. Purpose of the coexistence part of the study 
was to do a survey on existing knowledge on coexistence from literature and other available sources, to define stakeholde rs and experts in Slovenia who could 
support development of strategies and legi slation in coexistence. Special focus 
was dedicated to maize, oilseed rape and soy. Legislation developing at that time 
in other countries was followed. Some general guidance was given. 
Meglič, V. et al. 2005: Coexistence and preser vation of biodiversity in agriculture 
(agrobiodiversity): specific technologie s of crop production and preservation of 
biodiversity of agricultural crops. Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, commissioned by Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. In the frame of the study an 
overview of plant species and transformati on events that would be interesting for 
crop production in Slovenia was compiled. We have focused on events that are 
permitted in the EU and events that are envisaged to get permission in the near 
future. That includes maize, oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beets and some 
vegetable crops. We have made an ove rview of agricultural species, local 
populations and old Slovenian cultivars that are possible receivers of GM 
constructs and as well an overview of po ssible locations where it could come to 
unintended presence. Possibility of GM  plant production is connected to the 
intensity of crop production, which we de scribed as the share of fields and 
vegetable gardens to other agricultural su rface use. Growth dynamics have been 
described for GM donors and GM receiv ers of main agricultural species. If 
appropriate measures for prevention of unintended presence in ex-situ and in-situ 
conditions are followed, the coexistence in  Slovenia would be possible. According 
to experiences in other EU countries, we have proposed, for preparation of 
 
EN 83   EN optimum production technologies, a set of fiel d trials as well in Slovenia. In the 
same manner, we would have to prep are a strategy for in-situ and in-vivo 
conservation of genetic resources in co existence, for Slovenian conditions. 
Šuštar-Vozli č, J., et al. 2006. Elaboration of risk assessment for non-deliberate 
release of genetically modifi ed oilseed rape, maize and potato in Slovenia, and the 
preparation of a proposal for the environm ental monitoring. Agri cultural Institute 
of Slovenia, commissioned by Ministry of  Environment and Spatial Planning. The 
aim of the study was to prepare a basis fo r the elaboration of risk assessment for 
non-deliberate release of ge netically modified oilseed rape, maize and potato in 
Slovenia, and to prepare a proposal for the environmental monitoring. Transport 
routes on the territory of Slovenia were described in details for all the studied 
crops. Critical points wh ere non-deliberate release of GM plants in the 
environment may occur were identified. Chai ns for seed and commercial material 
were described separately. Informa tion on production, processing and foreign 
trade of oilseed rape, maize and pota to in the period be tween 2001 and 2006 was 
acquired from different already existing data  collections (e.g. Statistical Office of 
RS, Phytosanitary Administration of th e Republic of Slovenia, Agricultural 
Economics Department of the Agricultura l Institute of Slovenia, Chamber of 
Commerce and Industry of Sl ovenia). Questionnaires were also sent to a large 
number of suppliers along the whole chai n in order to provide information on 
produced, processed and stored quantitie s of crops, storage locations, imported 
quantities according to the country of origin and tran sport ways and purpose of 
use of the produced or imported seed, grai n of oilseed rape and maize and ware 
potato in the years from. A pproximately 1/3 of questionn aires were received back, 
others considered the data as business s ecret. Due to specific ity of each crop, a 
uniform approach for elaboration of risk  assessment and monitoring could not be 
established; therefore three different sy stems were proposed, one separate for each 
crop. 
Šuštar-Vozli č, J., et al. (2007) Elaboration of  a proposal for thresholds for 
labelling the presence of GM seeds in other seeds, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, commissioned by Ministry of Envi ronment and Spatial Planning. In the 
study an overview was given of the curr ent state of the ar t on the GM seed 
thresholds in EU. In the absence of seed regulation the situati on and current praxis 
in individual member state was presen ted. Emphasis was given to legal base, 
labelling and inspection. In the second part of the study critical po ints in the seed 
supply chain where unintende d or technical unavoidable  presence of GMOs could 
occur were identified. The share of unint ended presence of GM seeds that could 
occur at each critical point was estima ted for each of the studied crop (maize, 
oilseed rape, potato, sugar beet). The cost/benefit analysis was conducted for 
potato and oilseed rape.  
2002-2006: ECOGEN (Soil ecological and economic evaluation of genetically 
modified crops); 5th FP EU project, Inst itute Jozef Stefan Ja mova 39. Ljubljana, 
commissioned by the European Commission. 
2004-2007: SIGMEA (Sustainable Intr oduction of GMOs into European 
Agriculture), 6th FP EU project, Institu te Jozef Stefan Jamova 39. Ljubljana, 
commissioned by the European Commission. 
 
EN 84   EN  
6.2. Coexistence research currently taking place in the Member States  
A
T Institution carrying out the research : AGES. Commissioned by: Ministry for 
Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. Description: Goal is to obtain new sc ientific and representative results for 
coexistence management in Austria unde r realistic cultivation conditions for 
maize by carrying on the study "Analyse s of gene flow in Zea mays in 
consideration of the envir onment in main cultivation regions in Austria" which 
was finalised in 2006, to gain additional da ta and to secure the present results.  
B
E Flanders: Devos, Y. (2008). Transgen ic crops: a kaleidoscopic impact 
analysis, PhD thesis, University of Ghent, Belgium (ISBN 978-90-5989-220-0) 
and all his other relevant publications in internationa l peer-reviewed journals, 
proceedings and reports, mentioned in this work:  (http://www.criticalphilosophy.uge nt.be/publications/pub_yann.htm
). 
 Wallonia: Search for feral transgenic rapeseed in the environment of the 
Walloon Region – Janssen et al. – Poster - 1st Global Conference on GMO 
analysis – Côme – Italia (Centre wallon de Recherches Agronomiques – 
Gembloux) – Commissioned by the public authorities. 
C
Z Study of selected factors influencing adventitious/unintended presence of 
GMO and biodiversity in the context of  coexistence of GM, conventional and 
organic crops” – Crop Research Institute w ith financial support of the Ministry of 
Agriculture (National Agency for Agri cultural Research, project no.1B53047). 
The aim of this project is to look into t echnical possibilities of spatial isolation of 
GM crops in selected areas of the Czech  Republic. Acquired data can be used 
when the Good Agriculture Practice deali ng with the release and monitoring of 
GM crops will be put into practice. The pr oject is also focused on the monitoring 
of changes in farming practices on the farm level once GM crops are 
commercialized. 
D
E One State’s programme in Saxony deals with Bt-maize. The design of this 
research field is predominantly directed to  other topics and its use for coexistence 
is very limited. This pa rt is called „Untersu chungen zur Absicherung der 
Koexistenz zwischen Betriebe n mit und ohne Anbau von GV-Sorten 
(Auskreuzung)“ and is carried out by the Sächsische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, commissioned by th e responsible States' ministry. 
D
K The Danish breeding company DLF-Trif olium A/S participates in the EU 
project TRANSCONTAINER whose target is  to develop efficient and stable 
biological containment systems for GM plants. The Institute of Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Life Scien ces at the University of Copenhagen, 
participates in the COEXTRA project. Th e institute leads Workpackage 3 where 
the scope is to assess the internal and ex ternal costs and benefits generated by the 
implementation of coexistence and traceability. 
E
S There is an administrative arrangement between the Ministry  of Environment, 
Rural and Maritime Affairs and the Nationa l Institute of Agricultural and Food 
 
EN 85   EN Research and Technology which aims at analysing gene flow in cotton. 
F
I GMO Research Program ESGEMO (Resear ch Programme on Environmental, 
Societal and Health Effects of GM Os 2003–2007), organized by the Academy of 
Finland, ended recently, and its results ar e in preparation for publication. For the 
aims of the research program see www.aka.fi/Tiedostot/Tiedostot/ESGEMO/ESGEMO%20ohjelmamuistio_Programme%20 memorandum.pdf  
Some of its projects may provide biol ogical information us eful in defining 
coexistence measures adequately fo r the Finnish cultivation conditions. 
F
R INRA (French National Institute for Agricu ltural Research) participates in the 
European programmes COEXTRA and SIGMEA. 
I
R Appropriate isolation distance for o ilseed rape, conducted by Teagasc Crop 
Research Centre, Oakpark, Carlow 
N
L Research is done to provide a science ba sed monitoring system to be used in 
case of commercial cropping (this syst em is currently under construction). 
P
T A tree year “Coexistence” Project was co mpleted, and the first results of that 
work have been disseminated through the DGADR Internet page. It is estimated 
that the final report will be issued in 2008. The main goals of this study is to 
create a “Manual of Best Practices for th e Coexistence for Maize” as well as the 
evaluation, under real conditions, of the technical measures for minimizing the 
adventitious presence of GMO, set forth in the national legisl ation and evaluate 
possible proposals of amendments to the le gal technical measures. This project is 
financed by the AGRO programme. It is conducted by DGADR and by the National Institute of Biological Resources  in partnership with the Agricultural 
College of Santarem, the ANSEME, the ANPROMIS, the AGROBIO and the Regional Directions of Agriculture and Fishing of Lisbon & Tejo Valley, Center 
and North. The progress reports of this project are available at www.dgadr.pt
. 
R
O The project “Coexistence of GM, conven tional and organic crops” is financed 
and monitored by the Ministry of Ag riculture and Rural Development and 
executed by the Agriculture Research and Development Station Turda in co-operation with the University of Agricultu ral Sciences and Ve terinary Medicine, 
Cluj-Napoca. Gene flow with non-transg enic crops is studied using phenotypic 
and biochemical markers. This test system was used i.e. in Spain (“The Spanish experience with coexistence after eight years of cultivation of GM maize” presented by Jose Ignacio Ortega Molina at the conference "Coexistence of GM, 
conventional and organic crops – freedom  of choice" from 4-6 April 2006 in 
Vienna, Austria) and in Germany (M. Langhof, B. Hommel, A. Hüsken, J. 
Schiemann, P. Wehling, R. Wilhelm and G. Rühl, 2008.  “Coexistence in maize: 
do non-maize buffer zones reduce gene flow between maize fields?” Crop Science 
48:305-316). Part of the research project is the study of the gene flow between 
GM and conventional crops (oilseed rape, maize and soybean) and ensuring the coexistence between the conventional and th e transgenic crops. The first phase of 
the research work was to measure the pollen-mediated gene flow among some 
non-GM oilseed rape ( Brassica napus)  varieties and uncertain gene flow from 
 
EN 86   EN oilseed rape to Sinapis spp. as a w ild species, by using RAPD and AFLP 
fingerprinting for revealing gene flow via pollination of oilseed rape. For revealing gene flow via pollination in soybean ( Glycine max ), we will study the 
hybrids resulted by crossings be tween plants with violet flowers and plants with 
white flowers. For maize ( Zea mays  L.) two phenotypic markers will be used for 
revealing gene flow: 1. cr ossings between the plan ts with red grains ( R-gene) and 
plants with yellow grains ( Y gene); 2. crossings betw een conventional maize and 
sweet maize ( sugary-1  gene).  
Study on the impact of conventiona l maize-specific technology and GM 
maize-specific technology systems, at th e farm level, on the biodiversity, yield 
quality and quantity. Grant supported by th e Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development (2008 -2010). Currently, in Romania, through the Order of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) no. 237/2006, the isolation distance between different croppi ng systems is the one used for seed 
production. One of the objectives of this proj ect is to assess the efficiency of the 
measures imposed through legal require ments regarding th e application of 
coexistence measures for different agricu ltural systems (with and without the use 
of GM plants).  Samples from conventional maize plants surrounding the GM 
maize field located in different ecological regions will be harvested for analysis 
using standardized methods. Data obtained  will be analyzed by correlation with 
the climate, cropping system and landscap e, assessing also the feasibility of 
coexistence at local level. 
Study conducted by Monsanto Romani a SRL in cooperation with the 
Agricultural University of Bucharest regarding the Bt pollen dispersion for coexistence arguments. The collected samples are being analyzed both in Romania and in France. 
S
I Harmonisation of technologies for following GMOs in food and feed 
production chain and their co-existen ce with conventiona l and ecological 
production chains, Agricultural Institute  of Slovenia (dr. Vladimir Megli č), 
Hacquetova 17, 1000 Ljubljana, commissi oned by Slovene Research Agency, 
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fore stry and Ministry of Environment and 
Spatial Planning. There are three work p ackages (WP1-3), that are led by three 
research institutions; WP1 Kmetijski inštitu t Slovenije – Agricultural Institute of 
Slovenia, WP2 Nacionalni inštitut za biologi jo – National Institute of Biology and  
WP3 Inštitut Jožef Stefan – Jozef Stefan In stitute. The work within each WP is 
conducted by researchers from all three in stitutions. Within WP1 the spatial and 
time systems of field production are de termined and defined, along with crop 
rotations, good agricultural  practice and traceability  of GMO food products. 
Within WP2 we are developing methodology fo r data analysis as a support for a 
decision making and as well optimizing the traceability of GMOs.  The system will be adaptable to traces as well the other contaminants in the agricultural 
practice. WP3 will combine all collected and other available data in the field production, e.g. wind, air pressure and humid ity, orographic data, field structure, 
time dynamics of the field production, a nd prepare a simulation for different 
widths of the safety belts in maize production. 
Guidelines for a national strategy of th e preservation of forest trees genefonds 
due to the introduction of GMOs in ag riculture, University of Ljubljana, 
 
EN 87   EN Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana (dr. Robert Brus) 
commissioned by the Slovene Research Agency, Ministry of Environment and 
Spatial Planning. Part of this study d eals with co-existence in GM trees.  
Protection against uninte nded release of GMOs a nd other biotic agents 
(phytopatogenic microorganisms) in the environment, National institute of 
biology, Ve čna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, commi ssioned by Slovene Research 
Agency Ministry of Defence. Apart from the National institute of biology, the Agricultural institute of Slovenia, the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, and the Slovenian institute fo r Hop Research and Brewing were also 
involved in the project. Desc riptions of supply chains for tomato, silage maize, 
potato, and grain maize were prepared fo r the Slovenian market and included the 
prediction of possible critical points for the release of GMOs into the environment. The existing traceability sy stems and technical instruction for 
establishing traceability and segregation systems within the supply chains for potato, tomato, and maize were described in detail. We identified production areas 
in Slovenia where a possibility for uninten tional spread of GM maize exists. The 
results and findings of the project were presented to the international public at 
different scientific meetings, and two workshops were organized in Slovenia 
which were attended by experts from diffe rent state institutions responsible for 
both parts of the project - GMO a nd plant pathogenic microorganisms. 
Co-Extra FP6-FOOD-2005-7158: GM and non-GM supply chains: their CO-
EXistence and TRAceability, Agricultural In stitute of Slovenia, Hacquetova 17, 
1000 Ljubljana and National Institute of Biology, Ve čna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, 
Institute Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, co mmissioned by the European Commission. 
Within the work of Agricultural Institu te of Slovenia in WP2 (Supply chain 
analysis, description and modelling), that analyses how to facilitate co-existence 
along the feed and food chai ns by characterizing the organizational schemes of 
supply chain product management from the farm to the fork, KIS is responsible 
for national description of silage maize and fresh tomatoes supply chains. The work was extended to collect data also for grain maize and potatoes in Slovenia. 
The aim of KIS work within WP4 (D evelopment of testing and sampling 
approaches) is to develop a reliable samp ling procedure for maize plants in the 
field in a situation of coexistence (m odel for fragmented landscape with very 
small field sizes). A two year field trial with two maize varieties differing in kernel colour was designed. Based on the attributes describing the properties of 
boundary layer that were measured during the growing period and collected data 
on outcrossing rate a prediction model for the spatial variabili ty of outcrossing 
rate was developed using data mining t echniques. The results of the model and 
selected statistical measures were used for development of different sampling schemes. Based on all the results a deci sion support system for selection of the 
most acceptable/reliable sampling procedure will be developed. 
Meglič, V. et al. 2006-2009. Traceability of GM crops in the food and feed 
production (L4-7573-0401-06), Agricultural Institute of Slov enia, Commissioned 
by the Slovenian Research Agency and Mi nistry of Agriculture, Forestry and 
Food. The objectives of the proposed rese arch work are to develop technical 
guidelines for establishment the system of traceability and efficient sampling scheme for specific conditions of relative small field size, from the field to the 
point where the sample is taken for th e analysis. Existing and experimental 
 
EN 88   EN information gained from this study on gene flow of the GM crops targeted will be 
collated and synthesised, points of reduc ing risks during the various post-field 
phases from field to the st ore will be identified and evaluated. Appropriate 
molecular tools for tracing and detection of GM crops will be applied and validated. 
Meglič V., 2008-2010. The influence of gene  flow, genetic diversity and 
variability and oilseed rape  production technologies on coexistence and fulfilment 
of requirements for sustainable pr oduction. Commissioned by the Slovenian 
Research Agency and Ministry of Agricu lture, Forestry and Food. The results of 
the research will allow an estimation of the effects of gene flow and oilseed rape production technologies on the fulfilment of requirements for sustainable and 
health food production. The project will a ddress the spatial, environmental and 
genetic point of view. From the spatial as pect the project will be analysed on two 
levels, the level of Slovenia and on the level of landscape. The research conducted will be focused on the spatial aspect and also on the environmental problems related to the gene flow in the oilseed rape production. Basic characteristics of 
oilseed rape presence within (volunt eer and feral populations) and outside 
production areas (feral populations), as well as the presence of seeds in the soil 
seed bank will be addressed. This aspect  will survey relationships between 
environmental factors and factors influe ncing type of farming (agrotechnical 
measures). The environmental aspect wi ll address appearance of volunteer and 
feral populations, their infl uence on the soil seed ba nk and on their growth and 
development in subsequent generations. The influence of the past and present type of production on the gene flow between different oilseed rape populations as well as the exchange and transfer of genes fr om wild relatives in natural environment 
will be discussed. The research will enable development of co-existence strategy of different ways of oilseed rape production on the territory of Slovenia 
(conventional, GM and biol ogical) as well as the development of a strategy 
needed for the preservation of biodiversity  of wild oilseed rape relatives in 
Slovenia. The research project will be car ried out in co-operation with the Jožef 
Stefan Institute. 
Vozlič J (2008) Traceability of oil seed rape plants across the Slovenian 
roadways Agriculture institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova17, 1000 Ljubljana, 
commissioned by Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Forestry. The samples of 
oilseed rape grown near roadways will be taken and the analysis on GMO will be made. 
In Slovenia also the annual monitori ng on GM food, feed and seed is done.