WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1651/96 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Simplified procedure for the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Date: 1996-06-24
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: access to information, administrative formalities, agricultural product, application of EU law, crop production, exchange of information, product safety, public health













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91996E1651

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1651/96 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Simplified procedure for the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)  


Official Journal C 345 , 15/11/1996 P. 0092 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1651/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (24 June 1996)Subject: Simplified procedure for the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)1. What GMOs have so far been released under the simplified procedure?2. How many applications for the simplified procedure have there been, from which Member States?3. Which GMOs are involved?4. What arrangements are there under the simplified procedure to ensure the public is informed?5. Is it true that GMOs can be released under the simplified procedure in total secrecy?6. Does the simplified procedure preclude application of the environmental information directive?7. If so, what corrections does the Commission propose to safeguard the principle of openness?8. If not, what are the specific prospects for its application?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1996)1. According to the information received from the Member States, up to now six modified crop plants have been released according to the simplified procedure (cauliflower, chicory, maize, oil seed rape, potato and sugar beet).2. & 3. Only France and the United Kingdom have requested the application of simplified procedures in 1994 under Article 6.5 of Directive 90/220/EEC ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990. )) on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms to the environment. These simplified procedures were adopted by the Commission in accordance with the opinion of the committee established pursuant to Article 21 of Directive 90/220/EEC (Commission Decision 94/730/EC of 4 November 1994 ((OJ L 292, 12.11.1994. ))). The authorities of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom have notified the Commission of their intention to apply the simplified procedures foreseen in that Decision. These simplified procedures cover the release of genetically modified crop plants which fulfil specific conditions outlined in detail in Annex II of Commission Decision 94/730/EC.4. According to Article 7 of Directive 90/220/EEC the Member States may provide 'that groups or the public shall be consulted on any aspect of the proposed deliberate release' if it is considered appropriate. The simplified procedures which have been adopted do not restrict the right and the duty of the Member States to set up the appropriate public information.5. Directive 90/220/EEC clearly outlines in Article 19 (4) that in no case the description of the genetically modified organism, the notifier and the location of the release may be kept confidential. Therefore, even releases according to the simplified procedures can not be done confidentially.6. to 8. Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 ((OJ L 158, 23.6.1990. )) on the freedom of access to information on the environment and Directive 90/220/EEC apply independently of each other. The application of Directive 90/313/EEC, therefore, is not excluded by the application of simplified procedures.