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European Commission |
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| The European Commission embodies and upholds the general interest of the European Union and is the driving force in the Union's institutional system. Its four main roles are to propose legislation to Parliament and the Council, to administer and implement Communities policies, to enforce Community law (jointly with the Court of Justice) and to negotiate international agreements, mainly those relating to trade and cooperation. |
| EC BIOTECHNOLOGY |
| EC COMMISSIONED RESEARCH PROJECTS, RELATED TO GMOS & BIOSAFETY |
| Framework 6 Programmes |
 Food quality and safety (2002) |
- Co-Extra - GM and non-GM supply chains: their CO-Existence and TRAceability
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- Co-Extra studies and validates biological containment methods and model supply chain organisations and provides practical tools and methods for implementing co-existence. In parallel, Co-Extra designs and integrates GMO detection tools, develops sampling plans, and elaborates new techniques to meet the challenges raised by increased demands for cost effective multiplex methods to detect as yet unapproved or unexamined GMOs (e.g. with stacked genes). Co-Extra also studies and proposes the most appropriate information structure, content and flow management for ensuring reliable and cost-effective documentary traceability. All of the methods and tools that are studied and developed are assessed not only from the technical point of view but also with regard to economic and legal aspects. In parallel, to promote harmonisation of co-existence and traceability practices around the world, Co-Extra surveys the GMO-related legal regimes and practices that exist in and beyond the EU. Stakeholders have been involved in the project from the start through the dialogue platform, editorial offices, focus groups, national relays, etc.
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- GMO Compass
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- GMO Compass informs about the benefits and risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The site aims to make an essential contribution to the general dissemination of valid information regarding genetically modified organisms.
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- BIOSAFE.RES
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- The BIOSAFE.RES database was developed to enhance communication regarding past and present GMO biosafety research. The database provides access to information for all worldwide stakeholders, including the general public, industry, and national and international agencies. In addition, it aims to improve communication within the scientific community, as well as between researchers and the public at large. The database is now public and biosafety research project leaders worldwide are encouraged to enter their projects directly into the database.
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- Pharma-Planta
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- The mission of the Pharma-Planta Consortium is to develop efficient and safe strategies for the production of clinical-grade protein pharmaceuticals in plants, and to define procedures and methods for the production of these proteins in compliance with all appropriate regulations.
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- SIGMEA - Sustainable Introduction of GMOs into European Agriculture
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- The SIGMEA project (Sustainable Introduction of GMOs into European Agriculture) is part of the Eurpean Commission Sixth Framework Program: Policy Oriented Research. The overall objective of SIGMEA is to set up a science-based framework, including strategies, methods and tools for assessing ecological and economical impacts of GM crops and for an effective management of their development within European cropping systems. The project has brought together expert groups from (14) member states.
- Additional related website – EC FP6 descriptor for SIGMEA
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- TransContainer
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- The Strategic Objectives of Transcontainer are: 1) Promoting co-existence of GM and non-GM (including organic) agriculture in Europe by using stable, environmentally safe and commercially viable biological containment strategies in crops economically relevant for Europe, and improvement and simplification of rules for co-existence; 2) Assessing the economic, environment and consumer impact of implementing biological containment strategies in Europe; 3) Enhancing understanding and acceptance, by stakeholders and the general public, of co-existence through biological containment strategies by invoking dialogue with and between these groups, and by facilitating informed policy and public debates on their consequences for co-existence measures.
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Framework 1-5 Programmes
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| European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) - GMO Panel |
| The Panel on genetically modified organisms deals with questions on genetically modified organisms as defined in Directive 2001/18/EC, such as micro-organisms, plants and animals, relating to deliberate release into the environment and genetically modified food and feed including their derived products. |
| EFSA Guidance Documents |
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| EFSA Opinion documents |
| Health and Consumer Protection Directorate - General (GM Food and Feed Safety) |
| White Paper on Food Safety (2000) |
| Community Register of GM Food and Feed |
| The authorisations granted after the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed shall be entered in the Community Register of GM Food and Feed. It provides useful product information such as the name of the authorisation holder, the exact scope of the authorisation, the designation of the authorised product, links to relevant risk assessments and the date of entry on the EU market. |
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| The Joint Research Centre is a research based policy support organisation and an integral part of the European Commission. They are a Directorate General, providing the scientific advice and technical know-how to support EU policies. Their status as a Commission service, which guarantees their independence from private or national interests, is crucial for pursuing their mission. |
| Institute of Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) |
| The Institute for Health & Consumer Protection (IHCP) is one of the seven scientific institutes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. It is located in Ispra, Northern Italy and has a staff drawn from the Member States of the European Union and associated countries. The Institute activities are related to genetically modified organisms, biotechnology, chemicals and risk assessment, nano-biotechnology, exposure, to environmental stressors, food contact materials and consumer products, and alternative methods to animal testing. |
- Biotechnology & GMOs Unit
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Kernel Sampling Technique Evaluation (KeSTE)