Research and analysis

Genetically modified organisms: review of current EU regulations

Report by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment examining the EU framework for controlling genetically modified organisms.

• From: Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
• Published: 27 August 2013

Documents

Towards an evidence-based regulatory system for GMOs

PDF, 321 KB, 13 pages

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Details

In this first of 3 linked reports, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) closely examines the EU framework for controlling genetically modified (GM) crops and other genetically modified organisms (GMO).

The committee concludes that the current system:

• is incomplete as it misses out products that have the same impacts as some of those that are included
• fails to account for benefit and compensation, which is in conflict with other EU regulations
• is weak in its monitoring approach
• is slow and expensive
• doesn’t encourage innovation

The report discusses the problems the framework faces in the near future if it isn’t changed, and considers whether an entirely new ‘evidence-based’ approach is needed.

Published 27 August 2013