2005/463/EC: Commission Decision of 21 June 2005 establishing a network group for the exchange and coordination of information concerning coexistence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops
Date: 2005-06-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agronomic research, consultancy, exchange of information, transgenic plant

L 164/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

24.6.2005

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 June 2005

establishing a network group for the exchange and coordination of

information concerning

coexistence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops

(2005/463/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

conventional

crops with

In its Recommendation 2003/556/EC of 23 July 2003
on guidelines for the development of national strategies
and best practices to ensure the coexistence of genetically
organic
modified
and
farming (1), the Commission expressed itself
in favour
of an approach that would leave it up to Member
States to develop and implement management measures
for
the Commission
announced its aim to facilitate the exchange of infor-
mation about ongoing and planned research projects at
national and Community level.

coexistence.

In this

respect,

Pursuant to Article 26a of Directive 2001/18/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March
2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of
genetically modified organisms and repealing Council
Directive 90/220/EEC (2), the Commission is to gather
and
at
Community and national level, and to observe the devel-
opments regarding coexistence in the Member States.

information based on studies

coordinate

For the purpose of these tasks, the Commission should
establish a forum, for exchange between Member States
of information on results of scientific studies as well as
on best practices developed within national strategies for
coexistence. It is essential that the Commission has the
possibility to organise working group meetings open to
national and other experts, where necessary.

Article 1

A network group for exchange and coordination of information
on scientific studies and best practices developed in the field of
types of genetically
coexistence of cultivation of different
modified, conventional and organic crops, hereinafter referred
to as ‘the group’,
is hereby established and attached to the
Commission.

Article 2

The group shall be

1.
experts
appointed by the Member States and shall be chaired by a
representative of the Commission.

composed of national

The Commission’s representative may invite other experts

2.
to participate in the meetings and the work of the group.

The Commission shall provide secretarial support for the

3.
meetings and work of the group.

The group shall meet at the premises of the Commission,
4.
according to the arrangements and timetable set by the
Commission.

Article 3

Expenses incurred by the experts participating in the
1.
meetings pursuant
to Article 2 shall be reimbursed by the
Commission in conformity with its rules for the reimbursement
of travel expenses, subsistence allowances and other expenses,
subject to paragraphs 2 and 3.

2.
Experts appointed by the Member States shall receive
reimbursement of travel expenses and experts invited by the
Commission shall receive reimbursement of
travel expenses
and subsistence allowances.

(4)

It is therefore appropriate to establish a network group
the Commission in the field of coexistence
to assist
(abbreviated as COEX-NET),

3.
For experts appointed by the Member States, the reimbur-
sement of expenses shall be limited to one participant per
Member State.

(1) OJ L 189, 29.7.2003, p. 36.
(2) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1830/2003 (OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 24).

The experts shall receive no compensation for the services

4.
they render.

24.6.2005

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 164/51

Article 4

Article 6

The experts participating in the group shall be independent of
industry, commercial and business or other conflicting interests.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication
in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 21 June 2005.

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 287 of
the
Treaty, the experts shall be obliged not to divulge information
coming to their knowledge as a result of the work of the group,
where the Commission’s representative informs them that the
material is of a confidential nature.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission